The first ship in a national fleet to be used in emergencies has been unveiled with contracting issues and the war in the Middle East blamed for delays.
Cargo ship ANL Kokoda will be the first vessel in the federal government's maritime strategic fleet.
It will be used in emergencies or national crises and can deliver fertiliser, cargo and other equipment.
While the Kokoda will not be able to transport fuel, it's hoped future ships in the fleet will be able to carry petrol and diesel to affected areas.
The national fleet will eventually be made up of 12 ships, with a five-year trial to be carried out with the first three vessels.
Details are yet to be released of the remaining two ships to be used in the pilot, but negotiations are ongoing.
Transport Minister Catherine King said the fleet would be used for a range of emergencies.
"If we're in an event of a flood or an emergency, we can't get food around our coast, this sort of ship is available for that," she told reporters in Townsville on Friday.
Labor announced plans in 2022 to set up a fleet to reduce the reliance on foreign shipping, after the COVID pandemic exposed risks to supplies from overseas.
The federal government pledged $21 million over five years and promised to name the winning tender for three of the ships by 2025.
That did not eventuate, leading to concerns about delays in the project.
But Ms King said there were multiple factors behind the time taken to announce the successful tender.
"The war in the Middle East made insurance a more difficult proposition for all shipping and that was one of the issues that certainly led to some of the delay, but it's a complex policy to bring home," she said.
The transport minister said an announcement on the remaining two ships in the trial would be made shortly, with talks with companies well advanced.
ANL Container Line managing director Esra Bora said the use of the Kokoda would be critical as part of the national fleet.
"Supporting Australia’s maritime supply chain and capability is central to our nation’s ability to utilise the sea for economic prosperity, essential trade and merchant shipping," she said.
Maritime Industry Australia chief executive Angela Gillham said a strategic fleet was essential in the event of emergencies such as the fuel shortages caused by the Iran war.
