Tag: Papua New Guinea

USS Green Bay, USCG Team Up for Transport

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December 7, 2018 – USS Green Bay (LPD 20) embarked United States Coast Guard transportable port security boats (TPSBs) assigned to Port Security Unit (PSU) 305, Nov. 27. PSU 305’s mission is to provide port security in support of military and humanitarian operations worldwide. The unit was recently in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, along with Green Bay providing maritime security in support of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. “The U.S. Coast Guard supporting the APEC in Papua New Guinea was a very challenging, but rewarding experience,” said Chief Machinery…

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Key aviation milestones achieved onboard HMAS Adelaide

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November 26, 2018 – The joint aviation capability embarked in HMAS Adelaide achieved key milestones while deployed to Papua New Guinea during Operation APEC 18 ASSIST. Eight helicopters from three squadrons embarked to provide logistics, aeromedical, maritime and shore security support as part of Joint Task Force 658. The helicopters included two MRH-90 Maritime Support Helicopters from Navy’s 808 Squadron, a Seahawk MH-60R ‘Romeo’ from Navy’s 816 Squadron and five MRH-90s from Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment. Commander of the Aviation Combat Element, Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Martin, said the ship operated…

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NZDF to provide security support at APEC 2018 in PNG

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November 6, 2018 – New Zealand is deploying New Zealand Defence Force assets to Papua New Guinea to assist with security at the APEC Leaders’ Week this month. New Zealand is sending the Offshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Otago with about 75 crew to assist with maritime security, a P-3 Orion detachment with 20 personnel to provide aerial surveillance, and up to 30 Special Operation Forces personnel to provide support to Papua New Guinea security forces on the ground in Port Moresby. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Ron…

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U.S. Coast Guard forces to provide maritime security for Economic Leader’s Summit in Papua New Guinea

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October 31, 2018 – U.S. Coast Guard service members are scheduled to provide port security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leader’s Summit Nov. 12-18 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The deployment of Coast Guard personnel comes after U.S. Ambassador to PNG Catherine Ebert-Gray and PNG Police Commissioner Gary Baki signed a first-of-its-kind memorandum of understanding last week authorizing the Coast Guard to enforce security zones near Port Moresby during the summit. Leaders and senior officials from 21 member nations are scheduled to attend the summit, including…

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USS Michael Murphy Visits Papua New Guinea Ahead of APEC 2018

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October 7, 2018 – USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrived in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Oct. 6. As the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Port Moresby since USS Comstock (LSD 45) in 2017, Michael Murphy arrives as the nation prepares to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit for the first time in Nov. 2018. Port visits like this strengthen the U.S. Navy’s relationship with the maritime forces of Papua New Guinea. The port visit also follows Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly’s recent trip to…

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Regional Ties Strengthened As Exercise Kakadu Wraps Up In the Top End

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September 13, 2018 – Exercise KAKADU 2018, Australia’s largest multilateral maritime and air exercise, drew to a close in Darwin today, after a fortnight of activities aimed at enhancing regional maritime security. Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said KAKADU was a military highpoint for Australia as well as a significant diplomatic achievement, with this year’s exercise involving 23 ships, 21 aircraft, a submarine and 3000 personnel from 27 visiting nations. “The size and success of KAKADU is evidence of Australia’s growing reputation as a trusted and capable…

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IPE18 resumes following RIMPAC success

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Following the successful conclusion of Exercise Rim of the Pacific, the Australian Defence Force has resumed its major maritime activity, Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018 (IPE18). Continuing the effort to deepen Australia’s defense engagement and security partnerships in the south west Pacific, HMA Ships Adelaide and Toowoomba – along with a platoon of Australian soldiers from 2RAR (2nd Battalion Royal Australia Regiment) – and US Marines are on their way to the Solomon Islands’ capital, Honiara. Replenishment ship HMAS Success will visit Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. The commanding officers of the…

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PLAN Peace Ark in Papua New Guinea July 12-18

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The Chinese navy hospital ship Ark Peace will arrive tomorrow in Port Moresby to provide free medical services from July 12 to 16 to the local community. According to information gathered from the Chinese Embassy, those who are interested in getting free medical service onboard the ship, can contact PNGDF Taurama Military Hospital and Gerehu General Hospital or visit the Ben Moide Club to get their names pre-registered. Pre-registration and the medical services are free of charge. The visiting Chinese navy hospital ship will work closely with the PNG Defence…

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PLA Navy’s hospital ship Peace Ark sets sail for “Harmonious Mission 2018”

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The PLA Navy’s hospital ship Peace Ark (Hull 866) set sail from its homeport in Zhoushan in east China’s Zhejiang Province on Thursday morning to embark on the voyage of “Harmonious Mission 2018”. It is the Peace Ark’s 7th “Harmonious Mission”, which will bring the ship to more than ten countries, including Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Columbia, Venezuela, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic and Ecuador, to provide humanitarian medical services. Upon invitation of the Chilean Navy, the Chinese naval hospital ship will also have a stop…

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Austal Launches First of PPB-R

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Austal Limited (Austal) announced May 29th that the first of 21 Guardian Class, Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB-R) has been launched just two years after the contract was awarded, keeping with the schedule and budget for the project. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018. “Austal is proud to be delivering the PPB-R program for the Commonwealth. This is the first steel ship program we have managed and we are doing so on time and on budget” Austal CEO, David Singleton said. “It…

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Expedition provides detailed new look at HMAS AE1

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A joint US and Australian expedition to survey Australia’s first submarine HMAS AE1 has provided detailed new images of the 103-year old shipwreck, which lies on the seafloor off the Duke of York Islands in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS AE1 was lost at sea with all hands on 14 September 1914, and its fate had remained a mystery until its discovery in December 2017. It was the first loss for the RAN and the first Allied submarine loss in World War I but ultimately a…

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Report released into fate of HMAS AE1

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Australia’s first submarine was most likely lost during an underwater operation off the coast of Papua New Guinea as it returned to Rabaul, according to the findings of a report from the expedition that found the wreck of HMAS AE1. The submarine was discovered during an expedition led by Find AE1 Limited in December 2017, more than 103 years after it disappeared near the Duke of York Islands in PNG, ending one of Australia’s longest naval mysteries. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the images collected during…

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New Zealand hosts conventional weapons conference

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New Zealand is hosting 14 Pacific countries at the Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties in Auckland from 12 to 14 February. New Zealand’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fletcher Tabuteau, formally welcomed delegates to the Conference with a reception in Auckland. “The Conference provides an opportunity to reinforce the importance our region places on enhancing human security and protecting our peoples from harm,” said Mr Tabuteau. “It further reaffirms the role that the Pacific can play in protecting and strengthening global norms and in advancing the scope and span…

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Fishermen rescued in Torres Strait

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A Navy-crewed patrol boat has rescued nine Papua New Guinean fisherman after their vessel was found in the Torres Strait, having drifted without fuel or food for six days. The Australian Defence Vessel Cape Fourcroy was tasked to respond to the incident when a Maritime Border Command helicopter spotted the seven metre Banana Boat adrift on the Warrior Reef. Commander Maritime Border Command, Rear Admiral Peter Laver, praised the work of the Cape Fourcroy crew on board. “While our focus in the Torres Strait is protecting Australia’s waters from maritime…

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Labuan lives on through Lakekamu

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The former HMAS Labuan has proven to be a popular attraction and dedicated workhorse in her new role as part of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. Labuan, a Balikapapan Class Landing Craft Heavy, decommissioned from the Royal Australian Navy in November 2014 before being gifted to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force as part of the Defence Cooperation Program. In December 2014, the vessel was renamed and commissioned into the Papua New Guinea Defence Force as HMPNGS Lakekamu. Australian troops were deployed to Papua New Guinea to fight the…

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