OPV Nemesis

OPV Nemesis is an offshore patrol vessel of the New South Wales Police Force. It was acquired in 2008 to replace two older 22-metre vessels. It is designed to support a range of police operations up to 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) out to sea, including detecting illegal immigration, smuggling and drug trafficking and supporting counter terrorism and search and rescue.[1]

OPV Nemesis at McMahons Point in 2009
History
Australia
Name: OPV Nemesis
Operator: New South Wales Police Force
Builder: Tenix Defence/BAE Systems Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia
Acquired: June 2008
Homeport: Sydney
Identification: IMO number: 9465875
Status: Active as of 2012
General characteristics
Displacement: 104 tonnes
Length: 32 m (105 ft)
Propulsion: 2 x 1,825 hp (1,361 kW) CAT 12V C32 ACERT diesel
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range: 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km; 1,600 mi)
Complement: Accommodation for up to 10
Armament: Standard police issue firearms
Notes: Carries 6.4 m (21 ft) rigid hull boarding craft

The design specifications for the ship were drawn in 2005, taking into account lessons from the Pong Su incident. Nemesis was built by Tenix Defence (now part of BAE Systems Australia), based on the 35-metre (115 ft) Ilocos Norte-class ships built by Tenix for the Philippine Coast Guard.[2] Nemesis is the largest purpose-built police boat in the Southern Hemisphere.[3] The cost of the ship was $11 million.[2]

As well as policing duties it is able to assist operations of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.[2]

Standard police issue firearms are carried on board and the vessel itself has provision for fitting mounted weapons in the future.[2]

Nemesis was part of the support patrol for the 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.[1]

In 2010, the NSW Police was criticised for only operating the ship for 403 hours in 2009.[1] Deployments were subsequently increased to 80 hours per month.

References
  1. "Police vessel sitting at dock of Balmain's bay, wastin' time". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 February 2010.
  2. Davitt, Ernie (18 October 2008). "Seagoing patrol vessels strengthen police CT role". Australian Security Magazine. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
  3. "Port Kembla Maritime Centre". Parliament of New South Wales. 28 October 2009.
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