US Coast Guard: Cairns visit a success with Australia’s important allies
Officers have given a rare behind-the-scenes look onboard the first US Coast Guard vessel of its kind to dock at Cairns. Why it’s here and the intriguing thing crew love most about the city.
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COMMANDING officers of the first US Coast Guard vessel to ever visit Australia have provided a rare behind-the-scenes look on board the Oliver Henry.
The vessel, docked at Cairns, is fresh from a joint US Navy and Australian Border Force training operation in the Torres Strait dubbed Exercise Fortune Guard.
The vessel has made headlines for being turned away from Honiara amid a Solomon Islands ban on warship visits.
United States Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District, Rear Admiral Michael Day said the visit to HMAS Cairns, part of Operation Pacific Blue, had involved the Oliver Henry working side-by-side with their Australian colleagues.
He said it was important to work with their allies, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards.
“This new fast response cutter allows us to work with our Australian partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” RA Day said.
“Australia is of paramount importance to the US, a key ally, a key partner, we could not do what we do in the region without Australia and we hope to come here again.”
The Oliver Henry is the first Fast Response Cutter to fly the Australian ensign while they conducted a routine deployment in Oceania as part of Operation Blue Pacific.
“Operation Blue Pacific is an overarching multi-mission to endeavour promoting security, safety, sovereignty, and economic prosperity in Oceania while strengthening relationships with our regional partners,” he said.
Oliver Henry’s Commanding Officer Lt. Freddy Hofschneider, said the crew enjoyed working with Australian Border Force in FNQ on missions including preventing illegal fishing.
“We did some work with the Australian Border Force in the Torres Strait,” he said.
“This included a joint patrol with their (de Havilland Canada) Dash 8 aircraft in the air and we supplied surface support.”
On the lighter side, Lt Hofschneider said the 26-strong crew had been delighted with Cairns’ excellent facilities and natural attractions, especially the food.
“The crew really like Australian bacon, it's a lot tastier than what we get back home,” he said.
HMAS Commander Alfonso Santos said the robust Australian and US relationship meant he was delighted to welcome the USCGC Oliver Henry to Cairns.
“Our relationship with the US is very strong and goes back almost 100 years now and we have seen US ships here on a regular basis throughout the years,” he said.
“Having the Coast Guard vessel present here for the first time is momentous.
“We are very happy to have them here and I think we will see a lot more of these vessels here in the future.”
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Originally published as US Coast Guard: Cairns visit a success with Australia’s important allies
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