Ep 1. Welcome Aboard

Sea Patrol is a maritime adventure drama series that follows the lives of the crew members of the HMAS Hammersley, a fictional Royal Australian Navy patrol boat. The show takes viewers on a thrilling journey as the crew navigates through treacherous waters, faces dangerous situations, and tries to keep their personal lives afloat.

Season 1, Episode 1 of Sea Patrol is titled "Welcome Aboard" and introduces viewers to the main characters of the series. The episode opens with Lieutenant Commander Mike Flynn (Ian Stenlake) taking command of the HMAS Hammersley. He is a seasoned navy officer but this is his first time as captain of a patrol boat. He is immediately introduced to his crew, which includes leading seaman Andy 'Charge' Thorpe (John Batchelor), petty officer Nikki Caetano (Saskia Burmeister), and able seaman Swain 'Spider' Webb (Jeremy Lindsay Taylor) among others.

The crew is getting ready for a new mission as they are responsible for patrolling and protecting the waters surrounding the fictional Australian town of Coral Sea. Shortly after Flynn's arrival, they receive their first distress signal and the team quickly gears up for a search and rescue mission. When they arrive at the location, they find a group of survivors from a cargo ship that has sunk. Among the survivors is a young girl who shows signs of hypothermia and is in critical condition.

The crew members immediately jump into action as they transfer the survivors onto the Hammersley and offer medical assistance. The girl is taken to the ship's medical bay where Charge and Nikki work tirelessly to save her life. As they work to keep her stable, the rest of the crew starts investigating the cause of the sinking. They suspect foul play since the cargo ship had been running illegally to avoid detection.

Meanwhile, the new captain faces his own challenges as he tries to get to know his team. He has a somewhat strained relationship with Charge who has been with the Hammersley for a long time and is not accustomed to having a new boss. At one point, Charge questions Flynn's decision-making and the two have a heated exchange that puts their working relationship in jeopardy.

As the episode progresses, the crew discovers that the sinking was indeed caused by sabotage. They track down the culprits and bring them to justice. In the end, they successfully complete their mission and manage to save the young girl's life.

Overall, Sea Patrol season 1 episode 1, "Welcome Aboard," sets the stage for the rest of the series. It introduces viewers to the main characters, their personalities, and the challenges they face. The episode also highlights the importance of teamwork and communication as the crew members work together to complete their mission. With its action-packed sequences, strong character development, and stunning maritime setting, Sea Patrol is a show that grabs viewer's attention and keeps them hooked until the final credits.