Sea Patrol (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Sea Patrol is an Australian television drama, set on board HMAS Hammersley, a fictional patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy
(RAN). The series focuses on the ship and the lives of its crew members.
Despite similarities in setting and content, this series is not a follow-on to the 1979 series, Patrol Boat
. At the start of the second season, Sea Patrol saw an upgrade from the Fremantle class
to a newer Armidale class boat
.
The first season debuted on 5 July 2007 on the Nine Network
, who invested $15 million into the programme..
The second season of Sea Patrol, titled Sea Patrol II: The Coup, aired in 2008, while the third season, Sea Patrol: Red Gold, aired in 2009. The fourth season aired in 2010 in a new 16-episode format, with no main theme or continual storyline running throughout, unlike the first three seasons.
The fifth season of Sea Patrol, "Damage Control", began airing in 2011 and consisted of 13 episodes. The Nine Network has confirmed that this was to be the final season, due to reliance on government rebates that expire after 65 episodes. Completion of series five brings the total episode count to 68 episodes.
The first season's
premiere began with the introduction of Bright Island, which was positioned as a type of mystery island, and the death of a marine biologist. Over the duration of the season, the CO and some of the crew became suspicious and later entwined in a conspiracy involving water containing a deadly toxin.
The second season
, known as Sea Patrol II: The Coup, revolved around insurgents on the fictional Samaru Islands attempting to overthrow the current government, and a group of Eastern European mercenaries and smugglers who near-fatally stabbed Charge, tried to kill XO and are in cahoots with the insurgents and Samaruan constabulary.
The third season
, known as Sea Patrol III: Red Gold, began with the death of Josh "ET" Holiday
, fiance of Nicole "Nikki" (Nav) Caetano
and a crew member of HMAS Hammersley during the first two seasons. The investigation of this death ran throughout the season.
The fourth season
, known as Sea Patrol IV: The Right Stuff, returned with most principal cast members, with the exception of Pete "Buffer" Tomaszewski
, Nicole "Nikki" (Nav) Caetano
, Billy "Spider" Webb
and Commander
Steven 'Steve' Marshall.
The fifth season
, known as Sea Patrol V: Damage Control, began with a suicide bombing in an overseas bar. Season 5
was the last season.
Values.
This series shows the gender and cultural diversity of the Navy, and deals with contemporary issues such as illegal fishing, boat people
, drug-running, immigration
, and people-smuggling, and have an underlying mystery that runs throughout the series.
The first season featured two real Fremantle class patrol boats
, whose appearances were conflated to become HMAS Hammersley (PTF 202). HMAS Wollongong
was used for filming in Sydney, while HMAS Ipswich
was used for six weeks of filming off Dunk Island in Queensland. Hammersley serves under the fictional naval command structure of "NAVCOM", and was decommissioned during the final episode of the first season. HMAS Kingston (PTF 205), a second fictional Fremantle class boat, is mentioned in several episodes and appears in the ninth episode: Kingston shares her pennant number with real patrol boat HMAS Townsville
.
When the first season was being filmed, it was predicted that later seasons would replace Hammersley with the newer Armidale class patrol boat
. Subsequent seasons have used an Armidale class ship, also named HMAS Hammersley, with the hull number
82. For Season 2, footage from two ships was conflated to represent Hammersley: 42 of the 86 days of the series filming were spent aboard HMAS Broome
, with later pick-up filming aboard HMAS Launceston
.
to television acting.
Sea Patrol received mixed but generally positive reviews. The first season received an average 1.5 million viewers, which dropped during the early part of season two before returning to 1.5 million viewers for the final five episodes.
Many critics claim that the scripts are not well written and that the actors are not given the opportunity to shine.
Michelle Over, a reviewer for militarypeople.com.au, scored the first episode a disappointing 6.5 out of 10. Over also predicted that the series would begin jumping the shark
at episode 5, primarily due to a lack of quality scripts and an unlikeness to the real life of a Navy officer.
Shortly after the series began, the Royal Australian Navy
created "The Real Sea Patrol", an interactive website about the activities and personnel on board the Australian patrol boat , designed as a promotional and recruiting tool to capitalise on the series.
's catch-up TV service. This download required a third-party player, advertisements were contained in the downloaded files, and the episodes were programmed to be unplayable after the season finished airing. Due to geolocational IP blocking, the ninemsn service may not be available outside Australia.
The second season of Sea Patrol was released on the Australian iTunes music store on 25 June 2008.
The first season of Sea Patrol was made available in the United States on the streaming video website Hulu
in 2009.
press release, international rights to the series "in over 100 territories" were sold to Sparrowhawk Media by Nine Network's international distribution representative, Portman Film and Television. This deal gave Sea Patrol the ability to be seen on various international versions of the Hallmark Channel
. As a part of this initial deal, either one or both of the first two seasons of Sea Patrol were seen on Hallmark Channels in many territories throughout the world. Some of the 61 countries in which these early seasons aired on Hallmark included: the United Kingdom, Serbia
, Belgium, Indonesia
, India, Russia, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Vietnam
, and Palau.
Later in 2007, NBC Universal Global Networks bought Sparrowhawk. In 2008, NBC Universal Global Networks extended its inherited commitment to Sea Patrol by purchasing series three of the program from Digital Rights Group, a subsidiary of Portman. Despite being a US-based company, as of 2009, NBC Universal is yet to broadcast the series in the United States. Instead, Sea Patrol has had limited availability in America through the broadband provider Hulu
, arranged directly by Digital Rights Group.
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
(RAN). The series focuses on the ship and the lives of its crew members.
Despite similarities in setting and content, this series is not a follow-on to the 1979 series, Patrol Boat
Patrol Boat (TV series)
Patrol Boat is an Australian television drama series that screened on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Patrol Boat was created by James Davern and two series were produced, in 1979 and 1983, with a total of 26 episodes....
. At the start of the second season, Sea Patrol saw an upgrade from the Fremantle class
Fremantle class patrol boat
The Fremantle-class patrol boats were coastal patrol vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1979 to 2007. Designed by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine and constructed in Australia by North Queensland Engineers and Agents, the Fremantle class were larger, more powerful, and more...
to a newer Armidale class boat
Armidale class patrol boat
The Armidale class is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy . Planning for a class of twelve vessels to replace the fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats began in 1993 as a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy, but was cancelled when Malaysia pulled out of the process...
.
The first season debuted on 5 July 2007 on the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
, who invested $15 million into the programme..
The second season of Sea Patrol, titled Sea Patrol II: The Coup, aired in 2008, while the third season, Sea Patrol: Red Gold, aired in 2009. The fourth season aired in 2010 in a new 16-episode format, with no main theme or continual storyline running throughout, unlike the first three seasons.
The fifth season of Sea Patrol, "Damage Control", began airing in 2011 and consisted of 13 episodes. The Nine Network has confirmed that this was to be the final season, due to reliance on government rebates that expire after 65 episodes. Completion of series five brings the total episode count to 68 episodes.
Premise
All seasons of Sea Patrol have consisted of standalone episodes dealing with serious breaches of Australian law, such as illegal fishing, asylum seekers and other problems the RAN encounter on typical patrols. The premiere of each season usually introduces a larger event which is expanded on and connected as the season goes on, before being resolved in the finale. This format, however, with a storyline running throughout the season, was absent in season 4.The first season's
Sea Patrol (season 1)
The first season of the Australian drama Sea Patrol premiered on the Nine Network on 5 July 2007. The 13-episode season concluded 4 October 2007.-Main cast:-Recurring/semi-regular cast:-Plot:...
premiere began with the introduction of Bright Island, which was positioned as a type of mystery island, and the death of a marine biologist. Over the duration of the season, the CO and some of the crew became suspicious and later entwined in a conspiracy involving water containing a deadly toxin.
The second season
Sea Patrol (season 2)
The second season of the Australian drama Sea Patrol premiered on the Nine Network on 31 March 2008 and aired on Monday nights at 8:30 PM. The thirteen-episode season ended on 23 June 2008....
, known as Sea Patrol II: The Coup, revolved around insurgents on the fictional Samaru Islands attempting to overthrow the current government, and a group of Eastern European mercenaries and smugglers who near-fatally stabbed Charge, tried to kill XO and are in cahoots with the insurgents and Samaruan constabulary.
The third season
Sea Patrol (season 3)
The third season of the Australian drama Sea Patrol premiered as Sea Patrol: Red Gold on the Nine Network on 18 May 2009. Principal location filming will, as in past seasons, be completed in and around the area of Mission Beach, Queensland. It has an announced budget of A$17 million...
, known as Sea Patrol III: Red Gold, began with the death of Josh "ET" Holiday
Josh Holiday (TV character)
Leading Seaman Joshua "Josh" Holiday was a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by David Lyons.- Personal life :ET at the end of Season 1 began a relationship with the Navigator, Nikki Caetano...
, fiance of Nicole "Nikki" (Nav) Caetano
Nikki Caetano (TV character)
Lieutenant Nicole "Nikki" Caetano is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. She is portrayed by Saskia Burmeister.- Personal life:In season one Nikki started a relationship with fellow shipmate ET....
and a crew member of HMAS Hammersley during the first two seasons. The investigation of this death ran throughout the season.
The fourth season
Sea Patrol (season 4)
The fourth season of the Australian drama Sea Patrol began airing on 15 April 2010. Most regular cast members have returned. The season began with a major reshuffle of senior crew members, including a new Commander Maxine 'Knocker' White replacing Steve Bisley , Mike Flynn being promoted to...
, known as Sea Patrol IV: The Right Stuff, returned with most principal cast members, with the exception of Pete "Buffer" Tomaszewski
Pete Tomaszewski (TV character)
Petty Officer Bosun Peter "Pete" Tomaszewski is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor.- History :...
, Nicole "Nikki" (Nav) Caetano
Nikki Caetano (TV character)
Lieutenant Nicole "Nikki" Caetano is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. She is portrayed by Saskia Burmeister.- Personal life:In season one Nikki started a relationship with fellow shipmate ET....
, Billy "Spider" Webb
Billy Webb (TV character)
Seaman William "Spider" Webb is a fictional character on the Australian television show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by Jay Ryan.-Personal life:Webb is portrayed as rather immature and rash on occasions...
and Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Steven 'Steve' Marshall.
The fifth season
Sea Patrol (season 5)
The fifth series of the Australian drama Sea Patrol began airing on 26 April 2011. The Nine Network has confirmed that series 5, which will comprise thirteen episodes each with a stand-alone story, will be the last series of Sea Patrol.-Main cast:...
, known as Sea Patrol V: Damage Control, began with a suicide bombing in an overseas bar. Season 5
Sea Patrol (season 5)
The fifth series of the Australian drama Sea Patrol began airing on 26 April 2011. The Nine Network has confirmed that series 5, which will comprise thirteen episodes each with a stand-alone story, will be the last series of Sea Patrol.-Main cast:...
was the last season.
Main cast
| Actor | Character | Rank | Position | Tenure | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian Stenlake Ian Stenlake Ian Edward Stenlake is an Australian actor.-Television:Stenlake is perhaps best known for the role of Constable Oscar Stone which he played in the Australian police drama series Stingers from 1998 to 2002... |
Mike "CO" Flynn Mike Flynn (TV character) Captain Michael "Mike" Flynn, CSC, RAN, is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol, and is portrayed by Ian Stenlake. In the first episode of 'Sea Patrol' season 4 Mike is promoted to Commander and in season 5 is promoted to Captain and is transferred to NAVCOM.-History:Mike, also known as... , CSC Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations... , RAN Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces... |
Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander... |
Commanding Officer | Series 1–3 | 001–068 |
| Commander Commander Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval... |
Series 4-5 | ||||
| Lisa McCune Lisa McCune Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt... |
Kate "XO" McGregor Kate McGregor (TV character) Lieutenant Kate McGregor is a fictional TV character from the show Sea Patrol. She is portrayed by Lisa McCune.-History:Lieutenant Kate McGregor, the Executive Officer of HMAS Hammersley, is cool, beautiful, reserved, always aiming for a perfect 10 in everything she does. She was nicknamed... , RAN Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces... |
Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... |
Executive Officer Executive officer An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:... |
Series 1–5 | 001–068 |
| John Batchelor John Batchelor (Australian actor) John David Batchelor is an Australian television and film actor. He is most known for portraying Chief Petty Officer Marine Technical / Chief Engineer Andy 'Charge' Thorpe on the Australian drama series Sea Patrol, and Peeto in the Australian feature film Red Dog.-Career:Beside portraing Andy... |
Andy "Charge" Thorpe, MBA Master of Business Administration The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out... |
Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy... |
Chief Engineer Chief Engineer In marine transportation, the chief engineer is a licensed mariner in charge of the engineering department on a merchant vessel. "Chief engineer" is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the entire engine department; the qualification is colloquially called a "chief's... |
Series 1–5 | 001–068 |
| Matthew Holmes Matt Holmes Matthew Theodore Holmes is an Australian actor.-Early life:Holmes attended Newington College . He gained an Advanced Diploma in Acting at the Actors College of Theatre and Television.... |
Chris "Swain" Blake Chris Blake (TV character) Petty Officer Christopher "Chris" Blake, CV was a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. He was portrayed by Matthew Holmes.-Season one :... , CV Cross of Valour (Australia) The Cross of Valour is Australia's highest civilian award for bravery. It was established in 1975 to replace the British George Cross, previously awarded to Australians.... |
Petty Officer Petty Officer A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed... |
Coxswain Coxswain The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ... / Medic Medic Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine, especially emergency or first-response medicine, such as an emergency medical technician, paramedic, or a military member trained in battlefield medicine. Also the term is used toward a Nurse in pre-hospital care and/or emergency... |
Series 1–5 | 001–068 |
| Kristian Schmid | Robert "RO" Dixon | Leading Seaman Leading Seaman Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than... |
Radio Operator | Series 1–5 | 001–068 |
| Saskia Burmeister Saskia Burmeister Saskia Burmeister is anAustralian actress. She is most known for her roles in Hating Alison Ashley and Sea Patrol.... |
Nicole (Nikki) "Nav" Caetano Nikki Caetano (TV character) Lieutenant Nicole "Nikki" Caetano is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. She is portrayed by Saskia Burmeister.- Personal life:In season one Nikki started a relationship with fellow shipmate ET.... , RAN Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces... |
Lieutenant | Navigator Navigator A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to... |
Series 1–3 | 001–039 |
| Jeremy Lindsay Taylor Jeremy Lindsay Taylor Jeremy Lindsay Taylor is an Australian actor. He finished his education at Newington College in 1991 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in drama and sociology, from the University of Newcastle... |
Pete "Buffer" Tomaszewski Pete Tomaszewski (TV character) Petty Officer Bosun Peter "Pete" Tomaszewski is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by Jeremy Lindsay Taylor.- History :... |
Petty Officer | Boatswain | Series 1–3 | 001–039 |
| Jay Ryan | Billy "Spider" Webb Billy Webb (TV character) Seaman William "Spider" Webb is a fictional character on the Australian television show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by Jay Ryan.-Personal life:Webb is portrayed as rather immature and rash on occasions... |
Seaman | Boatswain's Mate | Series 1–3 | 001–039 |
| David Lyons David Lyons (actor) David Lyons is an Australian actor. He is best known for his role on the Australian drama series Sea Patrol, in which he played the Leading Seaman Josh Holiday.-Early life and education:... |
Josh "ET" Holiday Josh Holiday (TV character) Leading Seaman Joshua "Josh" Holiday was a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. He is portrayed by David Lyons.- Personal life :ET at the end of Season 1 began a relationship with the Navigator, Nikki Caetano... |
Leading Seaman | Electronics Technician | Series 1–3 | 001–027 |
| Josh Lawson Josh Lawson Joshua Lawson is an Australian actor. He grew up in Brisbane and attended St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace. He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2001. He also spent one year studying improvisation techniques in Los Angeles at The Second City, The Groundlings, ACME... |
Toby "Chefo" Jones Toby Jones (TV character) Able Seaman Tobias "Toby" Jones was a fictional character on the show Sea Patrol. He was portrayed by Josh Lawson.- Personal life :Toby Jones was born in Brisbane, Queensland on December 18, 1981. Also known as "Cheffo" Toby was very much a main part of the crew in Series 1... |
Able Seaman | Chef/Assistant Medic | Series 1 | 001–013 |
| Kirsty Lee Allan Kirsty Lee Allan Kirsty Lee Allan is an Australian actress and former fashion model. She is most known for portraying Able Seaman Rebecca 'Bomber' Brown in Sea Patrol.-Career:... |
Rebecca "Bomber" Brown Rebecca Brown (TV character) Able Seaman Rebecca Brown is a fictional TV character on the show Sea Patrol. She is portrayed by Kirsty Lee Allan.- History :Rebecca is a young Navy sailor who became the new chef of the new Armidale-class HMAS Hammersley when the previous chef, Toby Jones left after the decommissioning of the... |
Able Seaman | Chef/Assistant Medic | Series 2–4 | 014–055 |
| Nikolai Nikolaeff Nikolai Nikolaeff Nikolai Nikolaeff is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television series Sea Patrol, Power Rangers: Jungle Fury and Wicked Science.... |
Leo "2Dads" Kosov-Meyer Leo Kosov-Meyer (TV character) Leo Kosov-Meyer is a fictional television character portrayed by Nikolai Nikolaeff on the popular Australian T.V drama Sea Patrol.Leo, better known as "2Dads", is the crew's Electrical Technician, replacing the late Leading Seaman Joshua Holiday .... |
Leading Seaman Leading Seaman Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than... |
Electronics Technician Electronics Technician Electronics Technician is a common enlisted occupation in many Militaries. Common duties for ETs include repair, calibration, and basic maintenance of most electronic equipment.-US Navy:... |
Series 3–5 | 028–068 |
| Conrad Coleby Conrad Coleby Conrad Julius Coleby is an Australian actor.-Biography:Coleby is the son of actor Robert Coleby and brother of actress Anja Coleby. He attended Somerset College on the Gold Coast, graduating in 1996. In the same year, he played the role of Colonel Juan Perón in the school's production of Evita... |
Dylan "Dutchy" Mulholland Dylan Mulholland (TV character) Petty Officer Dylan "Dutchy" Mulholland, MG is a fictional character in the Australia TV drama Sea Patrol. His character is a replacement for the character Pete "Buffer" Tomaszewski, whose last appearance was in the final episode of season three... , MG Medal for Gallantry The Medal for Gallantry is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It recognises acts of gallantry in action in hazardous circumstances. The MG was introduced on 15 January 1991, replacing the Imperial equivalent. It is ranked third in the Gallantry Decorations... |
Petty Officer | Boatswain Buffer (navy) Buffer is the colloquial title for the senior seaman sailor in a Commonwealth of Nations Navy ship. The formal title is Chief Boatswain's Mate.... |
Series 4-5 | 040–068 |
| Danielle Horvat Danielle Horvat Danielle Horvat is an Australian actress, best known for her role in Neighbours as Taylah Jordan, and as Jessica Bird on Sea Patrol.-Television:... |
Jessica "Gap Girl" Bird | Seaman Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks.... |
Gap Year Gap year An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or... later Chef/Assistant Medic |
Series 4-5 | 040–068 |
| Dominic Deutscher | Ryan White | Midshipman Midshipman A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya... |
Junior Officer Junior officer The term junior officer is sometimes used to make clear that an officer in a military or paramilitary unit is not in overall command. The term senior officer is reserved for the officer in overall command.... |
Series 5 | 053–068 |
Recurring cast
| Actor | Character | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Commander Commander Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval... Steven 'Steve' Marshall |
Series 1–3 | |
| Dr. Physician A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments... Ursula Morrell |
Series 1 | |
| Carly Walsman | Series 2 | |
| Lang Calwell | Series 3 | |
| Ray Walsman | Series 2 | |
| Captain Captain (OF-2) The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery... Jim Roth, CV Cross of Valour (Australia) The Cross of Valour is Australia's highest civilian award for bravery. It was established in 1975 to replace the British George Cross, previously awarded to Australians.... |
Series 2, 5 | |
| Seaman Seaman Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks.... John 'Jaff' Jaffah |
Series 1 | |
| Finn McLean | Series 2 | |
| Emile/Malcom 'Mal' Scarpia | Series 3, 5 | |
| Peter | Series 4 | |
| Steve Coburn | Series 4 | |
| Zhenya | Series 2 | |
| Zan | Series 2 | |
| Wessel Berkelman | Series 4 | |
| Madelaine Cruise | Series 5 | |
| Richard 'Rick' Gallagher | Series 1 | |
| Viktor | Series 2 | |
| Harry Edwards | Series 4 | |
| Commander Commander Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval... Maxine 'Knocker' White |
Series 4, 5 | |
| Matt Robsenn | Series 3 | |
| Campbell Fulton | Series 2, 3 | |
| Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander... Jack Freeman |
Series 2 | |
| Simone Robsenn | Series 3 | |
| Carl Davies/Sgt Wild | Series 1, 5 | |
| Warrant Officer Ed Gray/Technician/Agent Smith | Series 3, 4 and 5 | |
| Lieutenant Lieutenant (naval) LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies... Darryl Smith |
Series 1 | |
| Federal Agent Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of... Gregory 'Greg' Murphy |
Series 1 | |
| Federal Agent Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of... Martina Royce |
Series 1 | |
| Federal Agent Australian Federal Police The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of... Alicia Turnball |
Series 1 |
Origins
"Every hour of every day in all weathers young men and women of the Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat Service battle the elements and the odds to defend Australia's borders and enforce its economic zone. They provide security, support, and relief for the world's largest island..". Each episode of Sea Patrol, from the third season begins with the words "Honour – Honesty – Courage – Integrity – Loyalty", which are the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
Values.
This series shows the gender and cultural diversity of the Navy, and deals with contemporary issues such as illegal fishing, boat people
Boat people
Boat people is a term that usually refers to refugees, illegal immigrants or asylum seekers who emigrate in numbers in boats that are sometimes old and crudely made...
, drug-running, immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
, and people-smuggling, and have an underlying mystery that runs throughout the series.
Ships
Fremantle class patrol boat
The Fremantle-class patrol boats were coastal patrol vessels operated by the Royal Australian Navy from 1979 to 2007. Designed by British shipbuilder Brooke Marine and constructed in Australia by North Queensland Engineers and Agents, the Fremantle class were larger, more powerful, and more...
, whose appearances were conflated to become HMAS Hammersley (PTF 202). HMAS Wollongong
HMAS Wollongong (FCPB 206)
HMAS Wollongong , named for the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, was one of fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats to operate with the Royal Australian Navy...
was used for filming in Sydney, while HMAS Ipswich
HMAS Ipswich (FCPB 209)
HMAS Ipswich HMAS Ipswich HMAS Ipswich (FCPB 209, named for the city of Ipswich, Queensland, was a Fremantle class patrol boat in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).-Design and construction:...
was used for six weeks of filming off Dunk Island in Queensland. Hammersley serves under the fictional naval command structure of "NAVCOM", and was decommissioned during the final episode of the first season. HMAS Kingston (PTF 205), a second fictional Fremantle class boat, is mentioned in several episodes and appears in the ninth episode: Kingston shares her pennant number with real patrol boat HMAS Townsville
HMAS Townsville (FCPB 205)
HMAS Townsville , named for the city of Townsville, Queensland, was a Fremantle class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
.
When the first season was being filmed, it was predicted that later seasons would replace Hammersley with the newer Armidale class patrol boat
Armidale class patrol boat
The Armidale class is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy . Planning for a class of twelve vessels to replace the fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats began in 1993 as a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy, but was cancelled when Malaysia pulled out of the process...
. Subsequent seasons have used an Armidale class ship, also named HMAS Hammersley, with the hull number
Hull number
Hull number is a serial identification number given to a boat or ship. A lower number implies an older vessel. The precise usage varies by country and type....
82. For Season 2, footage from two ships was conflated to represent Hammersley: 42 of the 86 days of the series filming were spent aboard HMAS Broome
HMAS Broome (ACPB 90)
HMAS Broome , named for the city of Broome, Western Australia, is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:...
, with later pick-up filming aboard HMAS Launceston
HMAS Launceston (ACPB 94)
HMAS Launceston is an Armidale class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Armidale class patrol boats are long, with a beam of , a maximum draft of , and a displacement of 270 tons...
.
Locations
- CairnsCairns, QueenslandCairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, Queensland - HMAS WaterhenHMAS Waterhen (naval base)HMAS Waterhen is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy , located in Waverton, Sydney. Constructed on the site of a quarry used to expand Garden Island in the 1930s, the location was used during World War II as a boom net maintenance and storage area. In 1962, the area was commissioned...
, Navy BaseRoyal Australian NavyThe Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, Sydney, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales... - Dunk Island, Queensland
- Mission BeachMission Beach, QueenslandMission Beach is a small village along the Coral Sea in Queensland, Australia. The popular tourist destination of Dunk Island lies 4 km offshore.-History:...
, Queensland - Cowley Beach, near InnisfailInnisfail, QueenslandInnisfail is a town located in the far north of the state of Queensland, Australia. It is the major township of the Cassowary Coast and is well renowned for its sugar and banana industries, as well as for being one of Australia's wettest towns...
, Queensland - Tamborine Mountain, Queensland
Reception
Before Sea Patrol aired, it was one of the most highly anticipated programmes in Australia, partly due to the episode budget of over A$1 million, twice that of other Australian dramas. Sea Patrol also marked the return of Lisa McCuneLisa McCune
Lisa McCune , is a four-time Gold Logie Award winning Australian actress, best known for her role as Senior Constable Maggie Doyle in Blue Heelers, and as Lt...
to television acting.
Sea Patrol received mixed but generally positive reviews. The first season received an average 1.5 million viewers, which dropped during the early part of season two before returning to 1.5 million viewers for the final five episodes.
Many critics claim that the scripts are not well written and that the actors are not given the opportunity to shine.
Michelle Over, a reviewer for militarypeople.com.au, scored the first episode a disappointing 6.5 out of 10. Over also predicted that the series would begin jumping the shark
Jumping the shark
Jumping the shark is an idiom used to describe the moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery....
at episode 5, primarily due to a lack of quality scripts and an unlikeness to the real life of a Navy officer.
Shortly after the series began, the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
created "The Real Sea Patrol", an interactive website about the activities and personnel on board the Australian patrol boat , designed as a promotional and recruiting tool to capitalise on the series.
Logie Awards
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Lisa McCune | Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Nomination |
| 2008 | Lisa McCune | Most Popular Actress | Nomination |
| 2008 | David Lyons | Most Popular New Male Talent | Nomination |
| 2009 | Kirsty Lee Allan | Most Popular New Female Talent | Nomination |
DVD release
| Season | Date Released | # Of Episodes | # Of Discs | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Patrol – The Complete Series 1 | 17 October 2007 | 13 | 4 | Slipcase Packaging |
| Sea Patrol II: The Coup – The Complete Series 2 | 6 November 2008 | 13 | 4 | Slipcase Packaging |
| Sea Patrol III: Red Gold – The Complete Series 3 | 1 October 2009 | 13 | 4 | None |
| Sea Patrol IV: The Right Stuff – The Complete Series 4 | 19 August 2010 | 16 | 4 | None |
| Sea Patrol V: Damage Control - The Complete Series 5 | 4 August 2011 | 13 | 4 | None |
Internet download
From 1 April 2008, full episodes of Sea Patrol were offered as free download, as part of ninemsnNineMSN
ninemsn is an Australian 50/50 joint venture between Microsoft and Nine Entertainment Co.. It effectively acts as the website for both the Nine Network and MSN, and is one of Australia's most popular websites...
's catch-up TV service. This download required a third-party player, advertisements were contained in the downloaded files, and the episodes were programmed to be unplayable after the season finished airing. Due to geolocational IP blocking, the ninemsn service may not be available outside Australia.
The second season of Sea Patrol was released on the Australian iTunes music store on 25 June 2008.
The first season of Sea Patrol was made available in the United States on the streaming video website Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
in 2009.
International distribution
According to an April 2007 Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
press release, international rights to the series "in over 100 territories" were sold to Sparrowhawk Media by Nine Network's international distribution representative, Portman Film and Television. This deal gave Sea Patrol the ability to be seen on various international versions of the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel (International)
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts in over 100 countries. They specialize in series and movies that are appropriate for the whole family. In all countries except the United States they are owned by NBC Universal. The Hallmark name is licensed from Hallmark Cards,...
. As a part of this initial deal, either one or both of the first two seasons of Sea Patrol were seen on Hallmark Channels in many territories throughout the world. Some of the 61 countries in which these early seasons aired on Hallmark included: the United Kingdom, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Belgium, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, India, Russia, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, and Palau.
Later in 2007, NBC Universal Global Networks bought Sparrowhawk. In 2008, NBC Universal Global Networks extended its inherited commitment to Sea Patrol by purchasing series three of the program from Digital Rights Group, a subsidiary of Portman. Despite being a US-based company, as of 2009, NBC Universal is yet to broadcast the series in the United States. Instead, Sea Patrol has had limited availability in America through the broadband provider Hulu
Hulu
Hulu is a website and over-the-top subscription service offering ad-supported on-demand streaming video of TV shows, movies, webisodes and other new media, trailers, clips, and behind-the-scenes footage from NBC, Fox, ABC, and Obstacle on October 20th 2011 Nickelodeon and CBS and many other...
, arranged directly by Digital Rights Group.