Australian Navy’s role in the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders’ Summit Security Task Force is helping to keep the Brisbane River safe.
Lieutenant Sean Aitken of the Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group based at HMAS Kuttabul is the Officer in Charge of the Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Force Element deployed to support the G20.
Their role is to provide support for the Queensland Police Service with side-scan sonar searches of the Brisbane River which are conducted by a team of five sailors.
A six man maritime explosive ordnance disposal detachment is also deployed to assist the police if required.
The Navy detachment is using a diesel tiller-driven 7.2 metre ridged hull inflatable boat similar to a Zodiac. The side-scan sonar is towed alongside the vessel to provide data of the river bed which is then analysed to identify if there are any explosive devices or suspicious objects that may warrant a visual inspection by a clearance diver.
[mappress mapid=”14430″]
Press release, Image: Australian Navy