Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class HMAS Stuart (FFH 153) and Philippine Navy’s Gregorio del Pilar-class BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) have conducted mutual exercises to hone their boarding operations.
Carried out before the sea phase of RAN led-multinational military exercise Kakadu 2014, the training took place in the vicinity of Fort Hill Wharf, Darwin, 400m offshore. It involved teams from both navies being trained by boarding the Sapphire Bay motor yacht.
Minor War Vessel Sea Training Unit petty officer Chris Whittaker said: "Today’s exercises have allowed us to develop interoperability with the Philippine Navy, and for both groups to appreciate the different equipment and procedures utilised by our navies."
Training was conducted under the supervision of petty officer Chris Whittaker of the Minor War Vessel Sea Training Unit, who stressed that sharp skills and vigilance are important whenever boarding a suspect vessel at sea.
The exercise will also provide personnel with sharp skills and vigilance that play vital role whenever boarding a suspect vessel at sea.
Stuart boarding officer Lieutenant Jarrod Chesher said: "It is vital that we continuously train to keep our skills sharp in all Navy work.
"In all, I am quite happy with the training we conducted, and I was impressed with that of the Philippine team.
"It is a great opportunity to develop multinational cohesion."
The 23rd Kakadu 2014 exercise is currently underway and focuses on concentrating neighbours from the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean regions to develop and enhance high-end naval war fighting capabilities.
Image: Navy personnel during the boarding exercises in Darwin. Photo: courtesy of Royal Australian Navy.
