KAKADU Coalition Observers Tour HMAS Stuart

On Tuesday 26 August 2014, HMAS Stuart held a tour for the coalition observers participating in Exercise KAKADU 2014 to familiarise themselves with the ship while it was alongside Fort Hill Wharf, Darwin.

Stuart’s Commanding Officer, Commander Aaron Nye and the ship’s company welcomed the representatives from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Commander Nye hosted the guests in Stuart’s Wardroom to discuss key activities during the first week of the exercise.

He highlighted that an objective of the exercise is to enhance maritime capability to operate in a contemporary maritime security environment.

“The exercise is about promoting interoperability with our maritime brothers and sisters around the region,” Commander Nye said.

The ship’s company led the enthusiastic group on a complete tour of the warship to demonstrate the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at work. The highlights of the tour included the Operations Room, the Bridge and the engineering spaces.

Commander Mohammad Shafiul Bari, Bangladesh Navy, appreciated the opportunity to get up close with an Australia warship.

Stuart is an Anzac class long-range escort capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction.

The ship can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.

KAKADU 2014 is the RAN’s largest maritime warfare exercise for the year, occurring in and off the coast of Darwin, from 25 August to 12 September 2014.