Publication:Navy Annual 2005/Boardings in the Dark
In the period 09-17 April 2005, HMAS Bunbury participated in Operation CLEARWATER. This "Whole of Government" initiative was Coastwatch led and Australian Defence Force supported. The aim was to deter foreign fishing vessels from Australian waters. HMAS Bunbury led after ?press-ganging? six additional personnel, including a RAAF Medic, two Australian Army interpreters, and Australian Fisheries, Customs and Quarantine Inspection Service Officers. expectation of a successful Operation quickly grew, though, in average weather, some needed a few days to find their sea legs.
Dawn boardings on Monday, 11 April 2005 were a great start to the operation when HMAS Bunbury and HMAS Warrnambool apprehended four foreign fishing vessels North of the Wessel Island group and escorted them to Gove.
HMAS Bunbury rested overnight in Gove and on Wednesday, 13 April 2005 shaped course for Jensen Bay on the northern tip of the Wessel Island group. Due to poor weather conditions, and for the first time in HMAS Bunbury history, HMAS Bunbury transited the Gungari Rip or 'Hole in the Wall'. HMAS Bunbury then rendezvoused with HMAS Betano to take on fuel and anchored overnight waiting for surveillance reporting.
The next day HMAS Bunbury was tasked to investigate a foreign fishing vessel reported near the Goulburn Islands area. After arriving in the reported position at 2200 with no radar contacts, HMAS Bunbury commenced a search of the area. At 0245 and in total darkness HMAS Bunbury located, boarded and subsequently apprehended the foreign fishing vessel. In the early afternoon HMAS Bunbury was tasked to investigate another sighting in the Cobourg Peninsula.
The evening of 15 April 2005 demonstrated the success of the 'Whole of Government' approach to the operation. At dusk, HMAS Bunbury was searching the reported position and held a radar contact well beyond visual range, one mile off the coast and in poorly charted waters. HMAS Bunbury directed a Coastwatch Aircraft to the radar contact and identified it as a foreign fishing vessel. By 2130 HMAS Bunbury dispatched a boarding party for a long range insertion, with the Customs Officer embarked to inspect for breaches of the Customs Act. After initial radar vectors, the boarding party stopped their boat and then homed in on the sound of the vessel's distinctive one cylinder diesel engine. Once boarded the Fisheries and Quarantine Officers also inspected the vessel. The Army linguists were extensively used and the RAAF Medic conducted a health assessment. every sea rider onboard, and agency involved in the operation, played a significant part in this apprehension. By 0130 on 16 April 05 a very tired but happy HMAS Bunbury crew had the two vessels under escort bound for Darwin.
The pair of boats was handed over in Darwin on the morning of Sunday, 17 April 2005 and HMAS Bunbury sailed again in the evening for the Wessel Island group. After another dawn raid in company with HMA Ships Warrnambool and Whyalla, Bunbury apprehended another two foreign fishing vessels and escorted them to Darwin thus completing HMAS Bunbury's contribution to the operation.
