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Seahorse Mercator
Seahorse Mercator is a navigational training vessel operated by Defence Maritime Services under contract to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She is a modified version of the Pacific-class patrol boat design and is based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney. Design and constructionSeahorse Mercator is a variant of the Pacific-class patrol boat design.[1] The ship has a displacement of 165 tons, a length of 31.5 metres (103 ft), a beam of 8.21 metres (26.9 ft), and a draught of 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in).[1] Propulsion is supplied by two Caterpillar 3304 diesels, driving two propellers.[1] Maximum speed is 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), with a range of 2,880 nautical miles (5,330 km; 3,310 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[1] Seahorse Mercator is run by a crew of five plus three instructors, and can carry up to eighteen trainees.[1] Radars include a Furuno FE 606 navigation radar, and a Decca Bridgemaster ARPA navigation radar.[1] The vessel is unarmed.[2] Seahorse Mercator was built by Tenix Ship Building Western Australia for DMS at a cost of A$4 million.[2] The vessel was launched on 15 October 1998.[2] The Canadian Forces Maritime Command's Orca-class patrol vessels were built to a modified variant of Seahorse Mercator's design.[3] Operational historySeahorse Mercator conducted sea trials during November 1998, with handover to DMS and the RAN on 26 November 1998[4] She was assigned to the naval base HMAS Waterhen, and replaced the Attack-class patrol boat HMAS Ardent as the RAN's Sydney-based navigational training vessel in December that year.[2][5] Since then she has mainly operated in the Sydney area[1] and has trained RAN personnel and sailors from other navies in coastal navigation, ship handling and watch keeping procedures.[5] Seahorse Mercator has a secondary role as a mine countermeasures craft.[1] References Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seahorse Mercator (ship, 1998).
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