Newcastle's deadliest catch

21 Jun 2010

HMAS Newcastle recently undertook a very rare passage. In company with HMNZ Ships Endeavour and Te Kaha, Newcastle conducted a great circle route across the North Pacific Ocean, encompassing a transit of the Bering Sea, a boat transfer into Dutch Harbour and sailing through Unimak Passage. Dutch Harbour is famous for being home of Discovery Channel’s ‘Deadliest Catch’ TV series and many of the well known Alaskan crab boats were visible alongside during Newcastle’s short visit.

Newcastle entered Dutch Harbour in the early morning mist, in temperatures of below zero degrees, to effect a medical evacuation of one of their shipmates. The transit through the Bering Sea and Alaskan Aleutian Islands is the first on record for the Royal Australian navy, according to the Sea Power Centre’s Navy History Section.