Exercise DUGONG 15, a mine countermeasures exercise which involved seven Navies, has drawn to a close in Hobart.
The event brought mine warfare and dive teams from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States together for two weeks to practice contemporary mine warfare and dive salvage techniques and procedures. New Zealand also took part, deploying headquarters personnel. Two Swedish officers and one Indian officer attended as observers.
Commenting the exercise, Commander Australian Mine Warfare Clearance Diving Task Group, Commander Max Muller, said:
Ninety-eight per cent of our trade by volume travels by sea, so it is important we preserve maritime security and remain at the cutting edge of mine warfare and salvage diving, to keep maritime traffic flowing. During the exercise, each Navy demonstrated their latest equipment and skills, as we worked together to locate and deal with sea mines and underwater obstructions within a complex post conflict scenario, in some challenging environmental conditions.
The Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Task Group, Sea Training Group, HMAS Yarra, DMS Seahorse Horizon, Mine Warfare Team 16, Australian Clearance Diving Team Four, the Defence Science and Technology Group, Australian Maritime Warfare Centre, the Mine Warfare Faculty and the Guided Weapons Sustainment Program Office, along with the Hobart based Australian Naval Reserve Diving Team Ten represented Australia at DUGONG 15.
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Image: Australian Navy