Chief of Navy visits East Timor
16 June 2010
The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, AO, CSM, RAN visited East Timor on 11th and 12th June 2010 to witness the commissioning of two Shanghai class patrol boats. The Shanghai class are the latest addition to the East Timorese Defence Force (F-FDTL) Naval Component (NTRL). The President of East Timor, Dr Jose Ramos Horta and the F-FDTL Chief, Major General Taur Matan Ruak presided over the commissioning ceremony, which included a Fleet Review. A visiting Armidale class patrol boat HMAS Pirie and a visiting Indonesian navy patrol boat, KRI KAKAP participated in the Fleet review with East Timor’s new vessels, Jaco and Betano as well as its other smaller vessels, OECUSSI and ATAURO. NTRL JACO and BETANO are expected to conduct future maritime operations in East Timor’s territorial waters.
“East Timor’s patrol boats have been designed with their regional security task well in mind,” said Vice Admiral Crane.
After the commissioning ceremony Vice Admiral Crane boarded HMAS Pirie and spoke with its crew. Vice Admiral Crane also met with the Australian Commander of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), COL Simon Stuart, and visited members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) deployed as part of the ISF. The visit was an excellent opportunity for RAN personnel deployed to the ISF to spend time with their service chief in a relaxed atmosphere. “It was good to see the Navy members of our team visited by the most senior ranking officer of the Navy. It also provided an opportunity for RAN members to receive an update on the New Generation Navy,” said Colonel Stuart.
The ISF mission is transitioning to a greater focus on capacity-building and skills sharing with the F-FDTL. In June 2010 a large multi-national exercise will commence. Exercise CROCODILO 10 will involve participants from the F-FDTL, Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. Although F-FDTL’s patrol boats will not be ready to participate in the activity, their participation in a similar exercise in the future is likely.
