HMAS Adelaide leaves Darwin Harbour berth for 14-country in Indo-Pacific voyage
Equipped with the latest technology, a massive kitchen and a hospital, one of Australia’s largest war ships has sailed into Darwin. See the video of life onboard the HMAS Adelaide.
Northern Territory
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Aboard a 27000-tonne war ship docked in Darwin Harbour, hundreds of military personnel prepare to depart for a two-month tour of the Indo-Pacific region.
Many of them on their first ever trip overseas.
The Indo-Pacific Endeavour exercise is taking a fleet of five ships, including the HMAS Adelaide, to visit and engage with 14 countries.
Among the visits on the itinerary are the Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Commodore Mal Wise is the commander of the exercise and said the program would be about collaborating with the other countries.
“Its real focus is to work with regional partners with a whole of government perspective to enhance regional security and enhance our national interest,” he said.
“Knowing and understanding the partner that you have and their sensitivities, what their interests are and other areas that they are concerned about is obviously key.”
He said the purpose of the visits was to “re-engage” with a military focus on the ground in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We’re working with our partners across the military spectrum to do a whole number of activities from a maritime exercises to military aviation activities to training with their land forces,” he said.
“Also understanding, from a military perspective, the capabilities that our partners bring to the table and allowing us to integrate effectively with them.”
The Australian Border Force will also be in attendance to meet with key stakeholders in each of the countries.
A tour of the tall ship takes you past fit young men and women keeping up with their gruelling training schedules, a catering team preparing 3000 meals a day and a fully-functional hospital with surgical, radiological and pathological capabilities.
The crew are proud and prepared to roll out whatever is needed when they arrive onshore, from providing humanitarian relief to training for military exercises.
HMAS Adelaide Commanding Officer Captain Troy Duggan said the ship’s capability meant there would be many benefits to the visit.
“The key thing about this ship is not just the raw ability to carry lots of equipment, helicopters, navy personnel — it’s about presence and providing a very physical piece of Australia and our sovereignty,” he said.
“A ship this size doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Captain Duggan said the crew were excited to set sail, with Covid a reason many people hadn’t travelled overseas in years, if ever.
“Everyone is excited and people are looking forward to getting out into the region,” he said.
“A vast majority of people on board have not stepped ashore to a foreign country.”
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Originally published as HMAS Adelaide leaves Darwin Harbour berth for 14-country in Indo-Pacific voyage
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