Australia Maritime Museum Calls ‘Action Stations’
Posted by Eric Haun
November 12, 2015
Artist's impression of our Immersive Cinema Experience: drama, danger and suspense on the big screen with a pumping
Artist's impression of the Immersive Cinema Experience: drama, danger and suspense on the big screen with a pumping soundtrack to set the scene. (Image: Australian National Maritime Museum)
Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer CSC & Bar, Commander of the Australian Fleet, Peter Dexter AO, Chairman ANMM, Senator The Hon Mitch Fifield, Minister for the Arts, Vic Buchan, Nine Network, Sonja Mole, Nine Network, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC, Andrew Bellamy, CEO, Austal, Kevin Sumption, Director ANMM. (Photo: Australian National Maritime Museum)
Davyd Thomas, Vice President (Defense) at Austal with Caroline Bellamy at the opening of ‘Action Stations.’ (Photo: Australian National Maritime Museum)
The Australian National Maritime Museum’s new “Action Stations” attraction officially opened in Darling Harbour, Sydney, on Sunday, offering guests a uniquely dynamic “Immersive Cinema Experience”.
The $12 million (AUD ) Action Stations attraction, located in a new waterfront pavilion, highlights the history of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and its people, the various periods of engagement from World War I to the present day and brings to life the human stories behind the uniform and the fleet.
The exhibit allows guests to step inside a simulator in order to feel what it's like to be aboard an operational warship, or actually climb aboard the three naval vessels permanently docked at the museum: Oberon-class submarine HMAS Onslow, Daring-class destroyer HMAS Vampire and Attack-class patrol boat HMAS Advance.
Sponsoring the attraction is Australia’s global defense prime contractor, Austal, who has designed, constructed and sustained 99 naval (defense) vessels since 1998 and has current contracts to deliver 10 x 127m Littoral Combat Ships and 10 x 103m Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels for the United States Navy, in Mobile Alabama; as well as 2 x 72m High Speed Support Vessels for the Royal Navy of Oman, from the company’s shipyard in Henderson Western Australia.
Announcing the partnership with the Australian National Maritime Museum, Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said the company is proud to have played a significant role in Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry over the past 17 years, through the delivery of the Bay, Armidale and Cape Class Patrol Boats - and was looking forward to delivering new capabilities to the Royal Australian Navy, through the upcoming Future Frigate and Offshore Patrol Vessel programs.
Speaking at the official opening, Bellamy said, “It is indeed an honor and a privilege for Austal to be partnering with the Australian National Maritime Museum to help share Australia’s proud naval history, at this fantastic new exhibition.”
“Austal have a long history in Australia’s naval and the international shipbuilding industry and therefore are a very fitting partner on this project,” said museum director Kevin Sumption. “From the get go they understood our vision to revitalize the museum and the importance of Action Stations as a permanent tribute to the men and women of the Royal Australian Navy.”
