HMAS Diamantina arrived in Honiara on Tuesday 23 June, along with ADV Reliant. The two ships, along with HMAS Yarra who are conducting a port visit in Honiara on their way to Tuvalu will conduct a survey operation of Nanumea Lagoon as part of Operation RENDER SAFE.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Yarra Lieutenant Commander Andrew Penfold said his crew were eager to help make Nanumea Lagoon a safer place for people of Tuvalu.
“This is a significant deployment,” Lieutenant Commander Penfold said.
“Australia has been working with Pacific partners for over 20 years under Operation RENDER SAFE, and we are proud to be the latest to contribute to the safety of the Pacific region.”
He said the task unit was ideally suited to the mission.
“Our clearance divers have specialist capabilities such as hand-held sonar and GPS mapping, which will allow them to search along the bottom of the lagoon,” Lieutenant Commander Penfold said.
The ships will first conduct a port visit to Honiara in Solomon Islands before transiting to Funafuti, Tuvalu.
Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal technicians will accompany the Royal Australian Navy task-group to advise and assist with the operation. SGT Patterson Filiga and PC Barbaras Talo will join the taskgroup, providing expertise in World War Two Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).
Captain Emma Griffiths, Defence Adviser to Solomon Islands noted their inclusion was a real recognition of the capability and expertise of the RSIPF in this highly technical field.
“The RSIPF are regional leaders in the management of UXO, and experts in the field. Their inclusion in the Operation RENDER SAFE task group is as genuine partners in this effort and I know the ADF will be drawing on their knowledge as they
undertake this important work.”
To mark the arrival of HMAS Diamantina to Solomon Islands, the ships company hosted members of the Solomon Islands Government on board for an official function and to take part in a ‘Ceremonial Sunset,’ a navy tradition to mark the end of the working day.
As part of this the combined band of RSIPF and Australian Army provided entertainment, as well as providing the music for the ceremony.
The Minister for Police, National Security and Corrective Services, the Hon John Tuhaika Jnr was in attendance and was presented commemorative plaques on behalf of the task group and ships company.
