HMAS Tarakan Conducts Final Visit to Bowen

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ship, HMAS Tarakan has berthed alongside the North Queensland town of Bowen for the final time before she is decommissioned later this year.

First granted Freedom of Entry (FOE) to the town in 2004, ship’s company conducted one last march through the township, capping off a decade long relationship with the community.

Commanding Officer of Tarakan, Lieutenant James Carroll, said it was important to include Bowen in the ship’s decommissioning voyage.

Tarakan spent a total of four days alongside in Bowen, taking advantage of the occasion to invite members of the public onboard for a ship’s tour.

Tarakan’s crew also undertook a number of community engagements while alongside.

Tarakan’s decommissioning voyage, conducted in company with sister ship Labuan will include port visits to Ballina, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands. Both vessels will also participate in amphibious exercise during the voyage.

The final three LCHs Labuan, Tarakan and Brunei will be paid off together in a ceremony at HMAS Cairns later this year ending 40 years of service in the RAN.