ACV Ocean Protector

The ACV Ocean Protector is an armed patrol vessel used by the Customs Marine Unit of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. It was acquired in 2010 to replace the MV Oceanic Viking.

The ship was originally built in 2007 as a Multipurpose Offshore Support Vessel for the Norwegian shipping company DOF ASA. It was originally named MV Geo Bergen and renamed MV Skandi Bergen on 19 July 2007. It was based in Bergen, Norway as project vessel for DOF Subsea Norway.

It was chartered to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service through DMAA Seaforce Pty Ltd in 2010. It was modified by Forgacs Engineering in Newcastle, New South Wales and renamed ACV (Australian Customs Vessel) Ocean Protector. The modifications included the addition of two deck-mounted .50 caliber machine guns, a reconfigured helicopter platform, secure communications, a medical/surgical facility (staffed by a doctor from the Australian Antarctic Division), FLIR systems and "austere accommodation for up to 120 potential transportees". It entered Australian Customs service in September 2010.

It is normally tasked to patrol Australia's exclusive economic zone in the Southern Ocean for up to 220 days per year and the Indian Ocean for up to 80 days per year.

Operational history

 * Intercepted suspected drug smugglers off Queensland in November 2010.
 * Intercepted two asylum seeker boats off Christmas Island in November 2010.
 * Retrieved three Australian anti-whaling activists who had boarded the MV Shōnan Maru 2 in January 2012.