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Posted by David Sexton
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29 May, 2026
THE Australian government has announced it has secured the first vessel in its maritime strategic fleet, the ANL Kokoda (IMO 9516765).
The ANL Kokoda, a 175 metre container ship, is to be the first to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program.
It is currently flagged in Malta but is expected to be reflagged in Australia.
According to the government, this sovereign shipping capability is expected to help strengthen Australia’s economic sovereignty and improve national security.
The vessel will be available to Australian government agencies to requisition in times of need, emergency or crises, such as natural disasters and supply chain disruptions.
The ANL Kokoda will be on hand to deliver supplies, equipment and be able to assist when Australian communities or industries need it most.
As part of the five-year pilot, the vessel will become Australian-flagged and crewed, helping to re-build our national shipping industry. It will bolster resilience and help grow our sovereign maritime workforce ensuring we have the skills and capabilities to operate our ports and maritime services into the future.
The ANL Kokoda is the first vessel in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program. The Government will continue to work with industry to procure additional vessels for Australia’s maritime capacity.
Federal infrastructure and transport minister Catherine King described the move as “an incredible chapter in Australia’s maritime history with the first vessel being announced in Australia’s Strategic Fleet”.
"Recent global events have emphasised the importance of Australia having a resilient domestic maritime sector,” Ms King said.
At Townsville for the strategic fleet announcement. Image: ANL
"The ANL Kokoda will provide critical maritime capabilities, including by adding a new tool to be able to respond to disruption events."
Maritime Industry Australia chief executive Angela Gillham said “the troubling decline” in Australian maritime capability called for “urgent and aggressive policy action to turn the trajectory of the industry around”.
“The announcement of the first strategic fleet ship — the ANL Kokoda — sends a clear signal that Australia is a maritime nation and this first step sets us towards achieving the sovereign maritime capability needed for our current and future prosperity,” Ms Gillham said.
“MIAL congratulates ANL and the Australian government on their perseverance and commitment to achieving this critical first milestone.”
Ideological differences
Meanwhile, contrasting positions on the announcement were expressed by old foes Shipping Australia and the Maritime Union of Australia.
In a statement, Shipping Australia congratulated "the CMA CGM Group, the Marseille, France-based company for entering a vessel into the fleet and we wish and hope for every success for them in the future in this venture".
“In relation to the policy itself, Shipping Australia has a long-standing opposition to the strategic fleet program generally," SAL stated.
“This is an opinion we have expressed repeatedly and at length, based on the experiences of similar and related programs in the past that have not had optimal outcomes.
“Only time will tell if this particular version of a subsidised national fleet will be optimal in the future.”
In a social media post, MUA national secretary Jake Field said Australian seafarers would go up the gangway on the ANL Kokoda "and make history as the first crews to operate a strategic fleet vessel, delivering on many years of hard policy work, tireless engagement, and dedicated advocacy by our union."
"Whether it’s bushfire, flooding, pandemic or geopolitical tension, the ANL Kokoda and the future additional ships joining it in the strategic fleet will be on hand to deliver supplies or equipment and be able to assist when Australian communities or industries need it most," Mr Field said.
"Young Australians want to go to sea. They are clamouring for a rewarding and fulfilling maritime career and this provides the foundation for that promise."
