Sri Lankan Navy receives first Bay-class vessel gift from Australia

The Sri Lankan Navy has received the first Australian Customs and Border Protection Vessel (ACV), Corio Bay, at a flag transfer ceremony in Cairns, Australia.

Provided by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS), the Bay-class patrol vessel has been renamed the Republic of Sri Lanka Navy Ship Oshadi.

The ACBPS national director of border force capability Nigel Perry said that the flag transfer ceremony marks the passing of responsibility, authority and accountability of command from one state to another.

As part of this process, ACBPS Marine Unit Officers trained Sri Lankan Navy personnel in day-to-day operational aspects and ship maintenance.

"The training was comprehensive. It included activities ranging from deck work, familiarisation of electronic systems and equipment on board, to undertaking operational drills," Perry said.

"It was a highly successful 17-day training programme, which allowed crews from both nations to exchange knowledge and experience of operating in the maritime environment.

"During the course of its 14 years as a customs vessel, Corio Bay completed 3,759 sea days and steamed 284,026nm."

The highly agile and responsive vessel will complement the Sri Lankan Navy’s existing fleet, while conducting search and rescue missions more effectively, covering a large area of the Indian Ocean.

It had been designed to perform strategic patrols, tactical surveillance and enforcement for various agencies to address the eight maritime security threats within and beyond Australia’s 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).