page_title: Craft of Opportunity Program
hierarchical_section_title: Craft of Opportunity Program
caption_attribution_description: English: DMSD0210083 Service Depicted: Multi-National Command Shown: Combined Combat Camera Team 010511M1589G003 Operation / Series: TANDEM THRUST 2001 Starboard stern view of the MSA Brolga, Royal Australian Navy, simulating an oil spill while members of Marco Oil Recovery Systems contain and recover the spill to test their reaction time and recovery capabilities in the event of an oil spill during Exercise TANDEM THRUST 2001. TANDEM THRUST is a combined United States and Australian military training exercise. This biannual exercise is being held in the vicinity of Shoalwater Bay training area, Queensland, Australia. More than 27,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are participating, with Canadian units taking part as opposing forces. The purpose of TANDEM THRUST is to train for crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations. Location: SHOALWATER BAY, QUEENSLAND AUSTRALIA (AUS) Camera Operator: SSGT JOHN GILES, USMC Date Shot: 11 May 2001
context_page_description: The Craft of Opportunity Program was a Royal Australian Navy acquisition program intended to supplement the navy's mine warfare capability with civilian vessels that could be quickly converted into minesweepers. Vessels acquired under COOP were not commissioned into the RAN, and instead operated with the prefix "MSA".
context_section_description: The Craft of Opportunity Program (COOP) was a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) acquisition program intended to supplement the navy's mine warfare capability with civilian vessels that could be quickly converted into minesweepers. Vessels acquired under COOP were not commissioned into the RAN, and instead operated with the prefix "MSA" (Minesweeper Auxiliary).
caption: MSA Brolga in 2001. Brolga was a lighthouse tender acquired by the RAN under the Craft of Opportunity Program to serve as an auxiliary minesweeper.
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