Tenders are about to close for a pilot program that could change the face of Australian shipping. It's called the Maritime Strategic Fleet and aims to turn around the drop in Australian-crewed cargo ships on our waters. If successful, the eventual fleet of 12 private vessels could be used in times of both peace and war.
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00:00Zach Kinzit remembers being marched off the MV Portland in 2016 after losing a two-month
00:08fight to stop foreign workers replacing the cargo ship's Australian crew.
00:12There's a lot of anger, a lot of grief, standing on the wharf in the middle of the night just
00:17together and watching everything we've known and worked for literally sail away.
00:24The dispute, along with the general decline of local crews, made waves at the time.
00:29The merchant fleet and those skills have played a critical role in the defence of this country.
00:36And it's informing policy now.
00:38With just nine Australian-crewed ships remaining, the Federal Government is building a national
00:43strategic fleet – 12 privately-owned cargo ships that can be called on in times of war
00:49or natural disaster.
00:50We'll provide for hopefully more and a reinvigoration of Australian shipping to provide wonderful
00:57seafaring jobs for Australian men and women.
01:02It gives young people some kind of certainty about a future in shipping.
01:08The peak body representing Australia's commercial shipping sector is also on board.
01:13What we want to see is more Australian-flagged and Australian-owned ships on the water.
01:19It's just, how do we get there?
01:21But the organisation representing foreign-owned vessels insists the fleet will, at next to
01:26no capacity, waste public money and potentially drive up costs during a cost-of-living crisis.
01:33The tender process for the first three ships closes on November 29.
01:37Treasury is also reviewing recommendations that could result in tax incentives and stricter
01:43enforcement of award wages.
01:46It'll provide an industry for young people to aspire to.
01:50Contracts for the pilot program will be announced next year.