Indian Navy tours HMA ships Sydney and Ballarat
14 May 2009
Eight Indian Navy officers recently attended a tour of HMA ships Sydneyand Ballarat during the ship’s first port visit for Operation Northern Trident 2009 (NT09) to Kochi, India.
The visiting Indian officers were either posted to the Indian Flag Officer Sea Training Group or currently employed at training schools located at the Southern Naval Command base in Kochi. They were interested in how the Royal Australian Navy conducts sailors’ training as well as navigation and damage control training.
LEUT David McPherson and LEUT Libby Duggan escorted the group through Sydney, showing them the bridge, operations room, damage control centre, machinery control centre, and allowing them to view the sensors from the upper decks.
“The tour was a great opportunity to exchange information on the similarities between both our navies. The Indians offered up details on the way they do business and we were able to compare notes.
“During the tour we were also able to demonstrate some of the new and improved capabilities of the FFG upgrade,” said LEUT Duggan.
The tour then continued onto Ballarat which allowed the Indian visitors to see first hand the differences between the two classes of RAN frigates.
Onboard Ballarat, in addition to the ships tour conducted by LEUT David Knight, LEUT Stephen Miller and MIDN Theresa Wells, the visiting officers were treated to presentations by sailors in their areas of expertise; Able Seaman Marine Technician Jason Dunshae discussed the technical aspects of the combined diesel or gas propulsion plant in the machinery spaces while Able Seaman Combat Systems Operator Aumau Filapau discussed the workings of the Operations Room.
“The tour of Ballarat provided a good overview to the visiting officers of the ability of the ANZAC class ships to counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface vessels and submarines.
“They were able to gain a comprehensive insight into the workings of the RAN from the perspective of both officers and sailors and we in turn appreciated discussing their experiences within the Indian Navy,” said LEUT Knight.
As part of their tour of Ballarat, the Indian Officers were shown through two deck which included the Main Galley, where Supply Officers Lucy Gaylor and Midshipman Theresa Wells spoke about the logistics required to sustain the long range capability of the ANZAC class frigates and the 184 people the galley serves four times a day.
“The Indian Navy does not send their female logistics officers to sea so we had a lively discussion about our experience of life at sea in the Supply department on Ballarat,” said MIDN Wells.
