Royal Australian Navy’s hydrographic survey ship HMAS Leeuwin showed off its skills following a port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia.
During a five-day passage from Indonesia to Port Klang, Malaysia, the crew were joined by six members of the Indonesian Navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic organization.
The aim of the sea ride was to further develop the relationships that had been established during Leeuwin’s port visit to Jakarta. Throughout the passage, the officers participated in professional development and knowledge sharing activities and gained first-hand experience in Royal Australian Navy methods and procedures in the conduct of hydrographic surveying and combat survivability.
A highlight for the sea riders was the opportunity to participate in the ship’s combat survivability training program where they noted the high standard of fire-fighting training that was demonstrated by the entire crew, and were surprised that these activities were a whole of ship evolution.
One of the embarked Indonesian officers, LTCDR Darius Rizki Khair, from Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), said he was amazed by how friendly and welcoming the ship’s company were throughout the passage.
“The opportunity to build professional relationships and networks with like-minded Hydrographic Surveyors and Oceanographers from another country was an important part of being a practitioner in this highly specialized field,” commanding officer of Leeuwin, LCDR Peter Locke, said.
HMAS Leeuwin will continue its South-East Asian deployment before returning to homeport in Cairns, QLD in late August.