Patrol Boat Crewing Divisions

The Armidale Patrol Boats are multi-crewed with 21 crews rotating through 14 ships. The crews are divided into four Divisions with six crews in three of the Divisions and three crews in the 4th Division.

Three of the Divisions are based in Darwin and one in Cairns, to complement the home porting of ten boats in Darwin and four in Cairns. Crews remain together and are not rotated through Divisions other than the one to which they are assigned.

At any given time, two of the crews in a Division will not be attached to a ship. During their non operational time, crew will either be on leave, undergoing training or standing by to act as operational relief for another crew. Under these crewing arrangements the Patrol Boat Group has between one and two crews changing out each week. The multi-crewing concept facilitate both maximum use of each patrol boat in line with the 3000 sea day capability, while providing for adequate crew rest and balanced work and life commitments. In essence the multi-crewing model provides a 21 ship capability using 14 vessels.