Sea Power Conference Proceedings
The Sea Power Conference began in 2000, and is conducted biennially in conjunction with the International Maritime Conference and the Pacific Exposition, at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The proceedings of the Sea Power conferences have generally been published in-house and limited copies are available.
The Blue Economy: Proceedings of the RAN Sea Power Conference 2017
National, Regional and Global Perspectives
Edited by LEUT John Nash and Dr Ben Herscovitch
Foreword
With the oceans and seas critical elements of the global economy, food and energy security, and livelihoods, the blue economy concept is rapidly gaining currency as an essential element of national security and prosperity. The rising popularity of the blue economy concept has in turn led to a deepening appreciation of the role of navies as key enablers of the blue economy.
In preparation for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Sea Power Conference 2017, the Sea Power Centre - Australia (SPC-A), in conjunction with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, published The blue economy in Australia. This volume served as the thematic basis for two of the sessions at the Sea Power Conference 2017.
The paper presented here collects in edited form the presentations delivered at the two blue economy sessions of the Sea Power Conference 2017. These presentations were delivered by current and former senior naval officers from around the globe, including several chiefs of navy.
Each chapter of this paper provides a unique perspective on the blue economy. Although some chapters are focussed on a particular geographic region, such as in the Baltic Sea or the waters around Fiji, all chapters emphasise the global importance of the blue economy.
These chapters highlight the crucial role that navies play in enabling the blue economy. Navies secure the maritime domain and make possible the responsible stewardship of domestic and international waters. Navies assist with everything from environmental monitoring and protection to escorting merchant vessels and responding to piracy and terrorism.
Several chapters also touch on the contribution of naval shipbuilding to the blue economy. In this way, navies provide inputs to the blue economy as well as protecting it. This is an especially salient point in light of the Australian Government's Naval Shipbuilding Plan and historic recapitalisation of the RAN.
With the blue economy concept growing in importance, this volume serves as a valuable snapshot of global perspectives in this critical area. This volume will hopefully improve global understanding and foster both intellectual and practical cooperation on the blue economy. I commend this paper to you.
Availability
This volume is available for download electronically.
The Future of Sea Power: Proceedings of the RAN Sea Power Conference 2015
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2017
Abstract
The ninth biennial RAN Sea Power Conference was held on Glebe Island in Sydney over 6-8 October 2015, examining issues associated with the future of sea power.
As a simple observation, the future of sea power is influenced by myriad factors that will impact on the possible role of navies, the capabilities required by navies, and the technologies that might be used by navies.
Some of these factors include current and emerging security challenges and appropriate responses to them, including cooperative regional mechanisms and the processes for how navies actually cooperate at sea, as well as the fundamental restructuring of some navies and new operational concepts to meets the requirements of their governments.
Major advances in relevant technologies are having a major impact on naval forces and how they might conduct future operations. Importantly these advances extend beyond weapons and sensors to information technology and the impact they may have on all aspects of shipborne operations and warfighting.
An oft forgotten factor is not only a state's thinking on or about sea power issues but more importantly, whether there exists within that state a maritime culture and identity that is the bedrock of creating sea power.
This volume includes some of the presentations delivered at the conference and is a mix of academic papers and the views of expert practitioners in various fields. As with all conferences and published proceedings, no claim is made to a comprehensive coverage of the issues, rather a selection of topics to fuel further thought.
Availability
This volume is available for download electronically.
Naval Diplomacy and Maritime Power Projection: The Utility of Navies in the Maritime Century
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2014
Abstract
This volume is the proceedings of the eighth Sea Power Conference held in Sydney over the period 7-9 October 2013 in conjunction with the International Fleet Review. The conference was designed to capitalise on the presence of many foreign navies in Sydney for the Review. The 21st century has been described as a maritime century as much as it is an Asian century, due to the pervasive nature of global sea trade and the predominantly maritime environment of Indo Pacific Asia. The theme of the conference was to examine the contemporary utility of navies as tools of statecraft, from hard and soft power perspectives.
It also explored, in a dedicated session, the notion of 'a maritime school of strategic thought' a debate that emerged in Australia in 2012, ahead of the promulgation of a revised National Security Statement and Defence White Paper.
Availability
This volume is available electronically and limited hard copies will soon be available.
The Naval Contribution to National Security and Prosperity
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2014
Abstract
This volume is the seventh Sea Power Conference held in Sydney over the period 31 January to 2 February 2012. It was aimed at informing how navies contribute, on a daily basis, to the defence and wellbeing of their nation and its interests. While the national security role of maritime forces during times of conflict is well-understood, navies have been involved in the ongoing task of providing 'good order at sea' regardless of the strategic context since their inception. Through this they ensure the economic prosperity and security of the nation by the protection of seaborne trade, the management and conservation of ocean resources, the protection and enforcement of maritime sovereignty, the conduct of oceanic scientific research, and search and rescue to list just a few of the myriad of activities undertaken.
But there is also another dimension to the naval contribution to national prosperity, that being the impact of creating, developing and maintaining a navy on the national economy, through impacts on the local community, defence industry, education, employment and technology transfer.
Availability
This volume is available in hard copy and electronic format.
Combined and Joint Operations from the Sea
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2014
Abstract
This volume is the proceedings of the sixth Sea Power Conference held in Sydney over 27-29 January 2010. As an island nation, Australia's maritime responsibilities are extensive and its security interests diverse. Australia is reliant on seaborne trade and maritime resources, and has the third largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world. Its long coastline, offshore territories, and seaborne trade routes require maritime forces able to respond not only to a variety of threats, but also to act cooperatively with neighbours across the full range of maritime security and humanitarian issues. This maritime response will often involve transiting long distances and lengthy deployments, necessitating an 'expeditionary' outlook.
The acquisition of two LHDs and associated amphibious assets require a consideration of how these new capabilities may be best used in support of Australia's national interests. Recent Australian and allied operations are examined to provide lessons for the development of new operational concepts.
Availability
This volume is available electronically and limited hard copies will soon be available.
Australia and its Maritime Interests: At Home and in the Region
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2009
Abstract
This volume is the proceedings of the fifth Sea Power Conference, held in Sydney over 29-31 January 2008. Australia faces a complex security environment that is predominantly maritime in nature; the rise of China and India; tensions and potential conflict between Australia's major trading partners in Northeast Asia; congested sea lanes and unresolved maritime boundaries in Southeast Asia; the growing importance of the Indian Ocean; and extensive Australian interests in the Southern Ocean and Antarctica. In order to meet these challenges, cooperation is essential both regionally and globally, and for the RAN in particular, the impact on future roles, mission and structure; its contribution to Border Protection Command; and the role of the Australian Hydrographic Service.
Availability
This volume is out of print and only a scanned PDF version is available.
Sea Power: Challenges Old and New
edited by Andrew Forbes, 2007
Abstract
This volume is the proceedings of the fourth Sea Power Conference held in Sydney over 31 January-2 February 2006. Notwithstanding a time of political uncertainty and war, the roles of navies remain the same, albeit with a changing emphasis on specific tasks: diplomatic and constabulary rather than fleet on fleet military tasks. In order to meet these challenges, navies require new equipment, logistic and scientific support, as well as improved planning processes to manage the current fleet while planning its replacement.
Availability
Published by Halstead Press (ISBN 978 1 920831 44 8). This volume is out of print and only a scanned PDF version is available.
