HMAS Cairns (naval base)

HMAS Cairns
Cairns, Queensland in Australia
Sentry gate at the entrance to HMAS Cairns
HMAS Cairns Location in Queensland
Coordinates	16°56′08″S 145°46′40″E / 16.93556°S 145.77778°E / -16.93556; 145.77778
Type	Naval base
Site information
Owner	Department of Defence
Operator	Royal Australian Navy
Website	navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-cairns
Site history
In use	1974 - present
Garrison information
Current commander	Commander Alfonso Santos, CSC, RAN
Garrison	Australian Patrol Boat Group RAN Hydrographic Service

HMAS Cairns is a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) base located adjacent to the Trinity Inlet on the shore of Trinity Bay in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Although used regularly as a port-of-call since before World War II, a permanent RAN presence was not established until 1971, when a maintenance and support base for patrol boats was set up. The base was formally commissioned in 1971 as a minor war vessel base. The current commander of the base is Commander David Hannah, RAN.

HMAS Cairns is responsible for all Australian naval activity off north-eastern Australia, and is the home base for one Armidale class patrol boat, two Cape class patrol boats and the ships of the Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service.