Hydrographic vessel HMAS Melville decommissioned in Cairns
Royal Australian Navy hydrographic vessel HMAS Melville has been farewelled in a decommissioning ceremony at the very same dock it was first commissioned, 24 years ago.
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Royal Australian Navy hydrographic vessel HMAS Melville has been farewelled in a decommissioning ceremony at the very same dock it was first commissioned 24 years ago.
Melville along with her sister ship HMAS Leeuwin were commissioned at Trinity Wharf, Cairns, on May 27, 2000 and after a career charting thousands of nautical miles of open ocean and coastline she has been decommissioned on the very same dock.
The vessel itself is 71.2 metres long, has a beam of 15.2 metres, a displacement of 2205 tonnes and is crewed by 46 officers and sailors.
The decommissioning ceremony featured her current crew and crew from her past including her previous commanding officers.
The ceremony marked the end of the ship’s life after she was built in the docks in Cairns by North Queensland Engineers and Agents.
Commanding Officer Ian McKellar said Melville has been a loyal companion for 24 years.
“She has been heavily involved in hydrographic surveys, scientific research and humanitarian aid and assistance throughout the Pacific,” he said.
“She has a very storied history.”
Fleet Commander Christopher Smith said the ship was a significant improvement on the previous capabilities and had an enormous task to undertake as part of the hydrographic service.
“Australia’s charting responsibility covers one eighth of the world’s surface, stretching as far west as the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean as east as the Solomon Islands and from the equator to Antarctica,” he said.
During her 24 years in service Melville has operated as much more than a hydrographic vessel.
“From 2001 Melville participated in border security operations focused on the prevention of people smuggling patrolling our northern borders,” Commander Smith said.
Melville has visited more than nine countries carrying out survey work, mine detection, and even the clearing of explosive material left over from World War Two in the Pacific Islands.
In 2004, Melville sailed to Hobart and assisted with the search and rescue efforts of a man lost overboard from the Spirit of Tasmania and later that year the vessel saved the civilian crew of a vessel that had run aground on a reef near Cairns.
In 2017 Melville assisted with the disaster response effort after Tropical Cyclone Debbie and following the crash of a US Marine Corp osprey aircraft, she was able to locate the wreckage at a depth of 59 metres off the Queensland coast.
“Divers from the ship found and secured the three marines killed in the crash,” Commander Smith said.
“In a display of gratitude the commander of the US Marine Corp in the Pacific awarded the US Meritorious Unit Commendation to Australia in 2018.”
In 2019, HMAS Melville used its embarked boats to deliver Australian and Solomon Islands election officials to polling places during the Solomon Islands elections.
Commander McKellar took over as commander in June last year.
“I have now served on Melville three separate occasions,” he said.
“I have fond memories of the people I have been able to serve with and the relationships you forge while you continue to serve.”
Commander McKellar said hundreds if not thousands of people have served or have been part of operations on board Melville.
“There are a lot of people who will be here who commissioned the vessel in the year 2000 so they are still serving members and get to see her decommissioned after 24 years,” he said.
“Some have served as seamen and have progressed all the way through to commander.”
Once Melville is decommissioned she is handed off to another government agency where they will look at disposal options for her.
“Her sister ship Leeuwin is continuing in service part of the activity will include harvesting parts to ensure the longevity of Leeuwin,” Commander McKellar said.
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Originally published as Hydrographic vessel HMAS Melville decommissioned in Cairns
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