AUSTRALIAN NAVY SHIPS VISIT MANILA
The Royal Australian Navy is in the Philippines this week to undertake a port visit and participate in a joint maritime training activity.
HMA Ships Darwin and Newcastle are berthed in Manila Bay for several days, while personnel from the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Customs Service conduct LUMBAS, a biennial maritime training activity, with the Philippine Navy.
LUMBAS will also for the first time include participation from the Philippine Coast Guard.
The Commanding Officer’s and crew of HMA Ships Darwin and Newcastle are excited to be experiencing the culture of the Philippines.
They are looking forward to meeting the people of the Philippines, sampling the local cuisine, shopping in the market-places, buying souvenirs and taking in some of the local sights.
Australia’s Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas AM, CSC, RAN, is also visiting this week, to observe the joint maritime training activity, and to meet with senior Philippine Navy and Coast Guard officials.
Australia and the Philippines are working closely together to address the maritime security concerns of the Philippines, with both countries facing similar issues, including lengthy coastlines, and the challenges of inter-agency coordination of maritime security.
HMA Ships Darwin and Newcastle are long-range escort frigates that undertake roles including area air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. Both ships are capable of countering simultaneous threats from the air, surface and sub-surface.
Images of both the ships are available from www.navy.gov.au/gallery
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