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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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)…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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