WALRUS seen at Inspection Head Wharf in Beauty Point, Tasmania, Australia. 28/01/2019

Location: 41°09'07.0"S 146°49'28.2"E

WALRUS was initially built of wooden construction at the Green Point Naval Boatyard in Sydney, NSW, and was commissioned to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as HMAS WALRUS - GPV 962, on the 5th of November, 1945.

It is evident that HMAS WALRUS started its operations in Melbourne, and after the Second World War, became laid up in Geelong. In 1956, HMAS WALRUS was transferred to the RAN naval base HMAS Rushcutter in Sydney, NSW.

Initially intended for use as a water tender, the vessel would go on to spend most of its naval career throughout the 50’s and 60’s as a diving tender.

Sometime during the late 60’s HMAS WALRUS was transferred to the naval base HMAS Watson in South Head, Sydney.

During its time in the Royal Australian Navy, HMAS WALRUS had some noteworthy deployments, such as:

1956: Sending three divers to destroy a drifting Japanese mine that had a close encounter with the collier MV STEPHEN BROWN near Sydney Heads.

1956: Seeking and destroying mines off the Queensland coast.

1961: Salvage of the wreckage from a Vickers Viscount airliner that crashed into Botany Bay after breaking up in a thunderstorm.

HMAS WALRUS was decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy in 1969 and was later sold on the 23rd of August, 1971. After being sold, the vessel underwent a thorough conversion into a fishing vessel and had spent many years operating as an abalone mother ship.

As a fishing vessel, WALRUS was involved in rescuing the sole survivor of a Japanese tuna boat (Nisshin Maru No. 8) which had hit rocks at Pedra Branca (a rocky islet off Southern Tasmania) and sank on the 7th of February, 1973. 21 lives were lost.

WALRUS survives today and has spent the last 13 years laid up at Inspection Head Wharf in Beauty Point. Allegedly WALRUS is currently undergoing maintenance for continued use as an abalone mother ship.

From observation, the vessel appears to retain its original wooden hull construction. Everything above its main deck appears to be constructed of aluminum or steel.

WALRUS is possibly owned or operated by Adelaide Bay Seafoods Pty. Ltd. - Inspection Head, Beauty Point.

Vessel Particulars as HMAS WALRUS GPV 962

Type: General Purpose Vessel
Flag: Australian | Home Port: Sydney
Pennant: GPV 9622
Year Built: 1945 | Country of Build: Australia
Builder: Green Point Naval Boatyard | Location of Yard: Green Point
Converted to Fishing Vessel: 1971
Length: 22.86 m | Beam: 5.48 m
Displacement: Standard: 75 ton | Full Load: 105 ton
Crew: 10 divers
Engine: Blackstone EVF MG Diesel | Power: 160 HP
Speed: 9 knots

Sister Vessels:

HMAS ALBATROSS - GPV 9613____Sold: 13.5.1971
HMAS BROLGA – GPV 9663____Sold: 2.12.1959