HMAS Sydney Welcomed Home From Major International Deployment
19 September 2009
The Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Sydney has returned to her namesake city today following Northern Trident 2009, an international deployment that took her ship's company to ports across the globe.
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, joined families and friends to welcome home the 230 members of the ship's company from a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the crew.
Senator Faulkner said that while the deployment provided extensive training and development for the crew individually, the ship itself provided an excellent platform to promote Australian products and export trade.
"I congratulate the crew of Sydney on their professionalism during the deployment which saw the ship undertake a range of tasks in support of Australia's diplomatic, international security and defence industry interests in Western Europe, North America and North Asia," Senator Faulkner said.
"I am confident that this deployment has provided the ground work to assist Australian Defence Industry exports as well as a variety of national interests."
The Adelaide Class frigate sailed from Sydney in April and in-company with HMAS Ballarat made her first port visit to Cochin India, where the ships further enhanced Australia's close relationship with India.
The Commanding Officer of HMAS Sydney, CAPT Peter Leavy said while the deployment was an exciting opportunity for members of Sydney to see the globe, the program kept everyone on board very busy.
"One highlight for the crew was the opportunity to sail past the Statue of Liberty and berth in the middle of the New York as part of Great White Fleet reciprocal commemoration events. As part of the commemoration the ship hosted the great-grandsons of President Theodore Roosevelt and Prime Minister Alfred Deakin," said CAPT Leavy.
"The ship's companies of Sydney and Ballarat will always remember their success in deterring pirate attacks upon two merchant vessels while transiting the Gulf of Aden, a tense but significant achievement."
HMAS Ballarat will return to Sydney on Friday 09 October 2009, after visiting Japan to take part in 150th celebrations of Yokohama port and to exercise with Japan's Maritime Self Defence Force.
Gallery
View the return of HMAS Sydney images.
