Pacific Partnership 2010 Arrives in Darwin for Port Visit
5 August 2010 By Lt. Marissa Myatt, Pacific Partnership 2010 Public Affairs
Timor Sea (At Sea) – The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrives in Darwin, Australia, Aug. 5 for a quality of life port visit while conducting Pacific Partnership 2010.
Pacific Partnership 2010 is the fifth in a series of annual U.S. Pacific Fleet humanitarian and civic assistance endeavors aimed at strengthening regional partnerships among U.S. government organizations, host nations, partner nations, and international humanitarian and relief organizations.
To date, Pacific Partnership 2010 has visited Vietnam, Cambodia, Palau, and the areas of Tobelo/Morotai, Ternate, and Ambon in Indonesia. Following its visit to Darwin, the humanitarian and civic assistance mission will continue to Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
Pacific Partnership 2010 participants for Timor-Leste will include medical and engineering professionals from Australia, Canada, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. military. In addition, volunteers from the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will include Latter-day Saint Charities, Operation Smile, Project HOPE, University of California, San Diego Pre-Dental Society, Vets Without Borders, and World Vets.
While in Darwin, the crew of Mercy will be onloading cargo while other members of the Pacific Partnership team head home following their contributions on the humanitarian and civic assistance mission. The remainder of the multi-national team will enjoy the local delights of Darwin following a busy few weeks in Indonesia.
After departing Darwin, Pacific Partnership 2010 will continue to Timor-Leste working once again alongside two Australian Heavy Landing Craft, HMAS Labuan (L128) and HMAS Tarakan (L129). Pacific Partnership will conclude this year’s mission with a visit to Papua New Guinea, where the Heavy Landing Ship HMAS Tobruk (L50) will act as the mission command platform for the first time since Australia’s five year involvement in the U.S. led mission.
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