Sea Patrol

Monday, June 23 at 8.30pm

It is Election Day on Samaru, and while Hammersley is winding up her peace keeping duties, it’s also a day that almost sees the death of one of her crew.

The day begins with bloodshed as a boat carrying two United Nations electoral observers – and a load of vote filled ballot boxes - explodes in the face of the Navy crew.

Using evidence provided by Buffer (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), about the attempt by Ray Walsman (Alan Dale) to have him murdered, the Hammersley team arrests the ex-pat and hands him over to the Samaru police. But because of his crucial evidence, Buffer is a marked man, and among a team of UN observers later taken on board, is one man with murderous intent.

Then Commander Steve Marshall (Steve Bisley) urgently warns Mike (Ian Stenlake) that Walsman has escaped, two policemen are dead, and the major military coup is underway.

Monday, June 16 at 8.30pm

A few simple telephone calls bring both hope and horror to one of the Hammersley’s favourite sons.

While his mates opt for shore leave at a local hotel, Buffer (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) is keen to connect with his new phone friend, Monica. Awaiting her call, Buffer’s attention is not only distracted by the Russian Special Forces tattoo on an aggressive passer by, but it leads him to be inadvertently locked in a container on a suspect barge, heading upriver.

Meanwhile, Commander Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake) has recovered and is back in charge of the Hammersley, quickly reacting to a “mayday” call from the luxurious yacht owned by Ray Walsman (Alan Dale). Walsman’s “floating gin palace” is being attacked by speed boat pirates, but as the perpetrators are pursued and captured, Mike and Kate (Lisa McCune) realize they have found the major players in a much bigger political jigsaw.

Monday, June 9 at 8.30pm

A change of command on HMAS Hammersley results in divided loyalties and the humiliation of the ship’s most senior female officer. After a dangerous departure from Samaru, Commander Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake) is recovering in hospital.

The acting command of Hammersley by Kate (Lisa McCune) is ended with the arrival of a legendary Navy veteran, Lieut. Commander Jack Freeman (Geoff Morrell). Charge (John Batchelor) is delighted with the arrival of the golf club wielding officer because he has served with him in the past.

But tension arcs when Freeman seems determined to undermine and belittle Kate in front of her crew. And painkilling drugs have been stolen by someone on board. On shore, Mike finds himself sharing the same hospital floor as the vicious mercenary believed to have attacked Charge.

Monday, June 2 at 8.30pm

Unresolved romantic tension has a dramatic effect on some of the Hammersley crew, after a savage mortar attack by insurgents on the Samaru island of Minatu. One moment the crew is on a humanitarian exercise, building a simple hospital. Minutes later, the quiet village erupts with a series of explosions, and ET (David Lyons) makes an impulsive dash to save Zuraya (Emelia Burns), a Samaruan girl who has taken a fancy to him.

Nikki (Saskia Burmeister) is not impressed, and less so, when Zuraya later stows away, and puts some of the crew in dreadful danger. Quick to arrive on the scene of the attack is SAS Captain Jim Roth (Ditch Davey), who tersely informs Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake) that he needs a speedy inflatable boat to track the insurgents to their island base.

Monday, May 26 at 8.30pm

A golden carrot is dangled before one of the Hammersley’s top brass, offering command of a super yacht that will sail to the world’s most glamorous destinations. The offer is made by mysterious local businessman Ray Walsman (Alan Dale) to CO Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake), who is already being pressured to apply for promotion to a desk job by Commander Steve Marshall (Steve Bisley).

Walsman’s offer tempts Mike – double his salary, tax free and sailing the seas to exotic ports. Spider (Jay Ryan) is also tempted – although in his case the reason is a siren call from Walsman’s nubile daughter, Carly Wiseman (Dajana Cahill).

But all offers have to be set aside as the Hammersley crew deals with the aftermath of a nightmarish situation when a hi-jacked cargo ship sinks – leaving one survivor, and the bodies of five crewmen – all executed with a single shot to the head.

Monday, May 19 at 8.30pm

Mother love has a deep impact on the Hammersley crew, resulting in great sadness for one sailor and a terrifying hostage situation for another two...

On the morning of her 21st birthday, Bomber (Kirsty Lee Allan) receives a surprise.It is a silver bracelet from her long estranged mother.

On the same morning, Buffer (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor), learns of his mother’s impending death, news that distracts him from his duty and results in both Bomber and Spider (Jay Ryan) disappearing.

It is only when Bomber can’t be found to receive her birthday surprise that there is the dreadful realisation that she and Spider must have fallen overboard, unnoticed, while Buffer was away from his command post. Drifting at sea, with only makeshift flotation devices fashioned from overalls, it is Bomber who keeps Spider alive, before the owners of a luxurious charter cruiser haul the duo to safety.

Monday, May 12 at 8.30pm

The loneliness of a Navy wife impacts on the Hammersley when one crew member considers applying for a desk job rather than jeopardise his marriage. The normally affable Swain (Matthew Holmes) believes his wife has left him. His distress is only relieved by a mission he makes his own – to save the life of a Samaruan child.

The Hammersley crew is on Samaru as part of a peace keeping exercise, when a gun amnesty is disrupted by a burst of machine gun fire, courtesy of an endearing local boy, Saka (Patrick Jhanur). Saka says he found the brand new gun in the jungle, but when tests reveal it is part of a shipment stolen in Australia, his life is endangered.

Monday, April 14 at 8.30pm

An ugly hostage situation on board HMAS Hammersley sees two of the ship’s female officers taken hostage below decks. It’s a day of high tension, which begins when a group of shipwrecked illegal
immigrants is rescued from a sand bay. Along with Afghan refugees, and a chronically ill Asian girl, are three super-fit Eastern Europeans who waste no time once they are safe on board.
On a pretext, they take both Nikki and Kate hostage below decks, and demand to be taken to New Guinea. Both women are mistreated when they try to help the ailing asthmatic girl, and Nikki is pressganged
into helping to navigate. In tense ship to shore communications, Commander Steve Marshall advises he has asked the SAS for a “Ship Underway Takedown”, and promises the team is trained to eliminate the hostage takers, not the hostages.
Back on board, there’s a gun battle at very close quarters involving ET, Spider and the cunning hijackers.

Monday, April 7 at 8.30pm

It’s a reverse case of snakes and ladders when a new Navy recruit makes her first onboard error.
Feisty chef, Bomber, finds herself slipping down the ladder in the estimation of Buffer when she loses her temper during a high spirited training exercise.
Buffer will not tolerate anyone with a short fuse and threatens Bomber with disciplinary charges.
But the gutsy girl from the bush is saved by snakes, in a chilling situation where she, Buffer and Spider are left to guard a drifting cruiser after its sole occupant is found dead.
There is no sign of cause of death, and the dead man has a foreign military services tattoo.
Then it is realised the vessel is slithering with deadly reptiles, and it is Bomber’s calmly carried out bush skills that save the day and return her to favor.

SEA PATROL BACK IN PRODUCTION

The Nine Network today announced the popular drama mini-series, Sea Patrol, is back in production with internationally acclaimed LA-based actor Alan Dale (Neighbours, OC, Ugly Betty) joining the cast.

In Sea Patrol – The Coup, Dale will make a special guest appearance as Ray Walsman, an International mining entrepreneur, throughout the 13-episode series. He joins the regular naval crew headed by Lisa McCune, Ian Stenlake and Saskia Burmeister.

Other core cast members returning to the program are John Batchelor, Matt Holmes, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, David Lyons, Jay Ryan, Kristian Schmid and Steve Bisley. This week they started rehearsals in Sydney before heading north in two weeks to commence shooting at Mission Beach, Cairns and on the Gold Coast.

The other key element of the program, the Royal Australian Navy with its vessels and crew, is also back at work. The new series will feature a state-of-the-art $60 million, Armidale-class patrol boat as the Sea Patrol’s HMAS Hammersley.

A premiere Australian drama sets sail on Nine
Thursday, July 5 at 8.30pm

Lisa McCune and Ian Stenlake lead an outstanding cast in the Nine Network’s highly anticipated new drama, Sea Patrol, premiering on Thursday, July 5 at 8.30pm. From the producers of Water Rats and Blue Heelers, Hal and Di McElroy, Sea Patrol is a 13-episode miniseries based on the Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat Service that protects the country’s vast coastline.

Every hour of every day, in all weather imaginable, young men and women battle the elements and the odds to defend Australia’s borders and enforce its economic zone. Sea Patrol is set aboard a navy patrol boat, the fictitious HMAS Hammersley, and tells the stories of the officers and crew as they tackle the multitude of situations that face the real-life RAN daily.

“Making this series has been a fantastic journey,” said Jo Horsburgh, Nine Network Head of Drama. “Over three years in development we believe the task of bringing together the resources of the Royal Australian Navy with a highly skilled television production cast and crew under the leadership of Hal and Di McElroy has produced an outstanding show for Australians of all ages to take to their hearts.”