Christening of the first BETHHybrid Bluebottles

BUTCH & BINNY

5.00pm for 5:30pm start

Friday 28 November

Building 6, Sydney Corporate Park

190 Bourke Rd Alexandria

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend the formal Christenings of the first of our new diesel hybrid 24’ BETHybrid Bluebottles.

These are the first Bluebottles with diesel power AND our unique keel winch.

We are deeply honoured that these first two vessels will be christened: BUTCH by Graeme ‘Butch’ Johnston BINNY by ACM Mark Binskin AC Please see biographies over page.

They have the same hulls from the same mold, as our renewable energy 24’ BETH class Bluebottles and use the same trailers, same work platforms, same logistics and operate under the same AMSA rules.

This marks a significant milestone, as it enables 24’ Bluebottles to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations using sonar arrays at high latitudes during winter months, during which there may be little or no sun.

We look forward to you joining us to help celebrate with champagne and wood fired pizzas.

Kind regards,

Robert Dane CEO 4 November 2025

P.S. Kindly refer to the biographies on the following page. R.D.

Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin (Ret’d) AC

Mark was Chief of the Defence Force of Australia from 2014-2018, Vice Chief of the Defence Force (2011-2014) and Chief of Air Force (2008-2011). In 2020, he was Chair of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. He is currently Chair of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Pacific Security College Advisory Board, Non-Executive Director at BAE Systems Australia and Nihon Cyber Defence.

As Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Binskin (Ret’d) successfully led the Australian Defence Force, comprising 80,000 permanent and reserve personnel, to significantly improve capabilities and responses to major global events and championed organisational change across areas of national security, culture, diversity and leadership performance.

Since joining Ocius as our National Security and Defence Advisor in 2024, Mark’s strategic insight, calm leadership, and deep understanding of defence and national security have been instrumental in shaping Ocius strategy. Beyond his professional contributions, Mark has become a valued friend and mentor to me, offering steady guidance with an invaluable blend of wisdom, humility, and generosity.

Graeme ‘Butch’ Johnston

In the 70s and 80’s, any chance I could, I’d go sailboarding at Mollymook, Tabourie, Murramarang or any number of beaches around Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast. Depending on the conditions, sailboarders would congregate at the same spots and over time I got to know Bruce Heggie and Graeme ‘Butch’ Johnston (nicknamed ‘Butch’ by his father) who had grown up and sailed together in the Illawarra. When I had an idea to enter a solar boat in the 1997 Advanced Technology Boat race I went to Bruce, who’d built me a number of surfboards and sailboards, and asked, “Can we build a big malibu surfboard with solar panels on it we can angle to sun as we sail round the lake and if wind sail?” He said, “No worries, we can do that, and we should ask Butch to be involved”.

The rest is history and Butch designed and built the Marjorie K and Sydney Solar Sailor Ferry, Hong Kong and Shanghai ferries joints based on the human shoulder joint. He was also there every step of the way, building joints for multiple scale models, Nemo and Bruce USVs based on the human elbow joint.

April 1997 Lake Burley Griffin

Butch is also one of the kindest humans on the planet and it is a true honour now that time