PODCAST: Royal Australian Navy minehunters’ new purpose after service, with Frank van der Linde

Naval

23 January 2025

By: Robyn Tongol

HMAS Norman and HMAS Hawkesbury. Photo: Frank van der Linde

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, senior journalist Robert Dougherty is joined by travellers and entrepreneurs Frank van der Linde and Kerry Leach.

You’re out of free articles for this month

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

First Name

Last Name

Mobile

Organisation Type

By becoming a member, I agree to receive information and promotional messages from Defence Connect. I can opt out of these communications at any time. For more information, please visit our Privacy Statement.

Need help signing up? Visit the Help Centre.

The pair are the new owners of two decommissioned Royal Australian Navy minehunters – HMAS Norman and HMAS Hawkesbury.

The former military vessels have been towed more than 3,800 nautical miles from Newcastle, Australia, to Cebu, Philippines, as they prepare for a new lease on life as private superyachts.

The trio discuss:

The origins of the two minehunter vessels, how the sale was completed and some complications along the way.
The challenges of using former military equipment in the commercial industry and documenting their journey via the YouTube channel, Living the Oneironaut Life.
The plans for the vessels and the construction efforts still to come.

Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team

Tags:

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: THE PROGRESS REPORT: The mission to make military children visible
Episode 10: PODCAST: Righting the ship, balancing the force, with Senator James Paterson, shadow minister for defence
Episode 9: SPOTLIGHT: Modern electronic warfare, spectrum congestion and the Australian defence ecosystem, with DEWC Services’ Rian Whitby
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: The intersection of finance, organised crime, terrorism and foreign interference, with Keith Bulfin
Episode 7: CONTESTED GROUND: The fragility of Australia’s energy ecosystem, with AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO
Episode 6: PODCAST: The MC-55A Peregrine and the future of ADF airborne reconnaissance, with Alan Clements
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: Australia faces fallout closer to home as Iran continues to fight back
Episode 4: PODCAST: AUKUS infrastructure, public perceptions and nuclear-powered submarines, with Fred Thomas MP
Episode 3: THE PROGRESS REPORT: From the cockpit to the dockyard
Episode 2: PODCAST: Iran escalation, munitions supplies and the Middle East’s path to peace

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member for free today!