RAN Landing Craft Take A Load Off
20 July 2009
HMA Ships Betano and Wewak have joined Humanitarian Civic Assistance Mission PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2009 enabling the delivery of vital medical, dental, engineering and veterinary aid to Tonga and the Solomon Islands from 13 July to 23 August 2009.
Capable of moving large amounts of cargo, personnel and equipment from the 23,852 ton light US Merchant Navy vessel USNS Richard E Byrd to key shore locations, the Australian ships are essential to the success of the mission.
The Landing Craft Heavy team is happy to arrive in Tonga after spending over a month at sea traveling 4,500 nautical miles.
"We're looking forward to participating in PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, to making a difference to so many peoples' lives," said Commanding Officer of HMAS Betano, LEUT Cam Hooper.
The PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP 2009 Mission Commander Captain Andrew Cully is also glad to have the Landing Craft on the mission.
"These guys traveled a long way in some tough conditions to get here. They are real sailors. They are integral to the mission and a very capable crew," said Captain Cully.
HMAS Betano will transport a multinational team of health professionals and medical supplies to the more remote islands of Tonga, which have populations ranging from 500 to 1000 people. Betano will deliver primary care providers, a pediatrician, an optometrist and a dentist into the isolated villages
"It would be difficult for these people ordinarily access this level of specialist medical treatment," said LEUT Hooper.
Wewak will work with the anchored USNS Richard E Byrd in the Ha'apai Island group providing daily ship to shore logistics. The crew will also help out ashore at a construction site and visit local school children.
Both Landing Craft Heavy have an Australian crew of 20 personnel onboard including Royal Australian Air Force Cooks.
The Australian Defence Force is providing specialist support to PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP, a US sponsored training and readiness mission which works through, with and by a diverse range of militaries, Governments and non-government organisations to develop foreign interoperability in delivering effective humanitarian and disaster relief aid in the Pacific.
