- Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service
The Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service is the agency of the Australian Commonwealth Government responsible for the mapping and surveying of undersea terrain and irregularities on and under the water's surface (known collectively as
hydrography ). It is primarily operated by theRoyal Australian Navy , and makes up one of the RAN's seven Force Element Groups. The agency serves both military and civilian functions, and in latter instances is known as the Australian Hydrographic Service or the Australian Hydrographic Office (commonly abbreviated as AHS or AHO).The Hydrographic Service is responsible for charting over one-eighth of the world's surface, bordered by
Cocos Island to the west, theSolomon Islands to the east, theEquator to the north, andAntarctica to the south. [cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/Leeuwin_Class |title=Leeuwin Class |accessdate=2008-09-16 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy ]History
From the time hydrographic surveying began in Australia until 1942, it was administered by the British Admiralty Hydrographic Office (later the
United Kingdom Hydrographic Office ). The RAN took over the role of hydrographic surveying in Australian waters in 1920, and responsibility for the publication of charts in 1942.In 1946, the Australian Cabinet instructed the
Commonwealth Naval Board that it was to take control of all aspects of hydrography in relation to Australia.Units
As of 2008, the following units and equipment are assigned to the Hydrographic Service: [cite web |url=http://www.hydro.gov.au/aboutus/ships.htm |title=Ships & Units |accessdate=2007-02-28 |work=Australian Hydrographic Service website |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia / Royal Australian Navy |pages=(and subpages)]
* The AustralianHydrographic Office , located inWollongong, New South Wales . Was opened in 1994, and has a staff of 120 mixed civilian and military personnel.
* Two "Leeuwin" class survey vessels
** HMAS "Leeuwin" (A 245)
** HMAS "Melville" (A 246)
* Four "Paluma" class motor launches
** HMAS "Paluma" (A 01)
** HMAS "Mermaid" (A 02)
** HMAS "Shepparton" (A 03)
** HMAS "Benalla" (A 04)
* OneLADS -equippedFokker F27 References
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.