Australian Navy Takes New York by Storm
17 July 2009
Two Australian warships, HMA Ships Sydney and Ballarat, will arrive in New York on Sunday for a four-day visit, as part of a round-the-world trip to promote Australia.
New York is giving the Australians the VIP treatment, inviting them to promote the tour on the 'Astrovision Screen' in Times Square.
The Australians have been given not one, but two, chances to star on the coveted big screen. There will be a 15-second segment promoting the ship's open day, which will be seen four times every hour for the duration of the four-day visit; as well as a 30-minute live feed of a photo shoot with members of both ships' companies in Times Square, which will be seen by around one-and-a-half million people.
HMAS Sydney's Commanding Officer, CAPT Peter Leavy, says the airtime was unexpected but most welcome. "This is a great honour and a fantastic opportunity for both the Navy and the Australian people," CAPT Leavy said. "The last time a RAN warship visited New York was HMAS Hobart in 1976."
The visit will also include a VIP tour of Ground Zero and the Tribute Centre, where both ships' Commanding Officers will join Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Nigel Coates AM, RAN and other dignitaries. RADM Coates will lay a wreath on behalf of the Royal Australian Navy in memory of those that lost their lives on 11 September, 2001.
New York marks the first of three Great White Fleet reciprocal port visits for Sydney and Ballarat. Following New York, the ships will visit Baltimore and Norfolk before visiting the Caribbean.
The Australian frigates will be open to the public at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal at Pier 88 on 21 July, providing Americans with the chance to mix with some Aussies.
Northern Trident 2009 is a six-month international deployment aimed at supporting Australian Government priorities in Western Europe, North America, and West and North Asian countries.
