ADV Ocean Shield Australian Defence Vessel ( ADV ) " Ocean Shield " is a ship of the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) . Ordered by DOF Subsea as the Offshore Support Vessel MSV " Skandi Bergen " , the ship was laid down by STX OSV . During construction , the vessel was sold to the RAN in March 2012 . Renamed " Ocean Shield " , the ship entered service in June 2012 as a civilian - crewed humanitarian and disaster relief vessel , operating in support of the RAN ' s amphibious warfare vessels . In 2016 , after the " Canberra " class landing helicopter dock ships enter service , " Ocean Shield " will be transferred to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to replace sister ship " Ocean Protector " . Construction and acquisition . The vessel was ordered by DOF Subsea and laid down by STX OSV as the Offshore Support Vessel MSV " Skandi Bergen " . She was laid down with the yard number 771 . The ship is a sister ship to the Australian Customs Vessel " Ocean Protector " . She has a displacement of 6 , 500 tonnes , is in length , has a beam of , and a draught of . The propulsion system consists of two Rolls - Royce azimuth thruster s at the stern , two tunnel thruster s at the bow , plus a , retractable azimuth thruster , also near the bow . Maximum speed is . Power is generated by four Wärtsilä medium speed diesel generators . The vessel is equipped and rated as a Dynamic Positioning Class 2 vessel and has an ice class of 1B . On 19 March 2012 , the Australian government announced the purchase of " Skandi Bergen " in a group of Defence acquisitions . The ship cost A $ 130 million : the price did not include the vessel ' s subsea equipment , which included ROV - operating equipment and an offshore crane with a 250 - tonne safe working load ( SWL ) . This equipment was retained by the shipyard for installation in a replacement vessel ordered by DOF Subsea , with a 60 - tonne SWL crane fitted instead . On 3 June 2012 , the ship ' s new name , " Ocean Shield " , was announced . Although tasked by the RAN , " Ocean Shield " is operated by a civilian crew , and will bear the prefix " Australian Defence Vessel " ( ADV ) , instead of being commissioned and receiving the HMAS prefix . The ship will be used to transport equipment and personnel as part of humanitarian and disaster relief operations . " Ocean Shield " will supplement the capability of the amphibious warfare ships and until the " Canberra " class ships enter service . The ship has accommodation for around 100 people , and is equipped with a helipad . She also has of deck area for cargo and equipment . Operational history . Sea trials were overseen by Teekay Shipping , as was the delivery voyage from Norway to Australia , via South Africa . " Ocean Shield " arrived in Fremantle , Australia on 28 June 2012 , and was accepted into naval service on 30 June . Around 2016 , once the " Canberra " s are fully operational , " Ocean Shield " will be transferred to the Customs Marine Unit of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service . She will replace sister ship " Ocean Protector " , whose charter is due to expire that year . In October 2013 participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney , Australia .