Australian Customs Service (ACS)

Coastwatch’s role and objectives

The ACS has stated that the role of Coastwatch is to provide a ‘civil littoral and offshore surveillance and response service’. Providing the following services:

• patrolling;
• detection;
• identification;
• surveillance;
• interception; and
• deterrence.

Coastwatch has established four primary objectives that underlie the delivery of its services. These objectives are to:

• deliver an effective national coastal and offshore civil surveillance service;
• provide effective marine and aerial responses to known or suspected breaches of the Australian border and offshore sovereignty and/or sovereign rights;
• provide a quality service for client agencies; and
• have staff who are committed to high standards of professionalism, probity and performance and who are supported by a safe, equitable work environment.

The following network is used in conjuntion with Coastwatch operations.
Coastwatch uses a mixture of aircraft and marine vessels. The aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary are supplied by outsourced contractors, Defence and charter flights. The marine vessels are supplied by either the RAN, private charter or the NMU.