STRATEGIC FLEET - UPDATE 9 - Announcement of First Vessel: ANL Kokoda

Friday, May 29, 2026

Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) provide the following update on the Australian Government's Strategic Fleet Pilot Program, following confirmation that the ANL Kokoda will be the first vessel to participate.

Background

As previously outlined in earlier FTA / APSA updates, the Australian Government has committed to establishing a Maritime Strategic Fleet aimed at strengthening supply chain resilience and supporting Australia's maritime capability.
The initiative is being progressed through a Strategic Fleet Pilot Program, which is expected to:

include privately owned, commercially operated vessels
operate under the Australian flag with Australian crew
be available for government requisition during national emergencies or supply chain disruptions

The broader program aims to support a fleet of vessels over time, with the pilot providing the initial stage of implementation.

Latest Development - ANL Kokoda

The Australian Government has confirmed the first vessel under the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program, being the container ship ANL Kokoda.
Key elements of the announcement include:

The ANL Kokoda will be the first vessel to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program as part of a five year pilot.
The vessel will transition to the Australian register and operate with an Australian crew
It will continue commercial operations, while being available to support government requirements during:
- supply chain disruptions
- natural disasters
- national emergencies
The vessel forms part of a broader objective to establish a fleet of up to 12 vessels over time

The pilot program will operate over a defined period, allowing the Government to assess future settings for the fleet.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

"This is 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.

"The ANL Kokoda will provide critical maritime capabilities, including by adding a new tool to be able to respond to disruption events."

Further information

Further information on the Strategic Fleet Taskforce is also available via the department website HERE.

Context

Recent global events have reinforced the importance of reliable and resilient maritime supply chains, particularly for a country with a high reliance on seaborne trade.
The Strategic Fleet initiative is intended to:

provide additional capability in times of disruption
support the movement of critical goods and supplies when needed
contribute to maintaining maritime operational capability within Australia

The ANL Kokoda will add to this capability as part of the pilot phase.

Key Details for Members

At this stage, the announcement represents an initial step in the implementation of the Strategic Fleet.
For members, key observations include:

The vessel will operate within existing commercial shipping arrangements, consistent with its current trading role
The Strategic Fleet is designed to provide supplementary capability in defined circumstances, rather than replace existing services
The broader program, including any future vessels, will continue to be developed as part of the pilot and subsequent phases

FTA / APSA will continue to monitor developments as the program progresses.

Previous updates

FTA / APSA will continue to monitor developments as the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program progresses, including any further announcements regarding additional vessels or program settings.

Further updates will be provided to members via www.ftalliance.com.au.