The first ever US Coast Guard Sentinel Class Cutter port visit to Cairns took place this week, with a joint activity also occurring between the US Coast Guard (USCG), the Australian Defence Force (ADF), a Republic of Fiji Navy Ship (RFNS) and the Australian Border Force (ABF) near Port Douglas.
The activity formed part of Operation Lighthouse, which intends to build and strengthen regional relationships, and involved USCG Cutter Oliver Henry, HMAS Melville, HMAS Wollongong, RFNS Savenaca and an ABF Dash-8 maritime surveillance aircraft.
Commander Maritime Border Command (MBC), Rear Admiral Justin Jones, CSC, RAN said the visit to Australia by the USCG vessel was testament to the long-standing joint commitment of both countries to upholding civil maritime security and law enforcement.
“We were honoured to welcome our friends from the USCG to our shores, and gained great value in increasing our interoperability through this joint activity,” RADM Jones said.
“Such cooperation is vital – particularly given the fact that many of the threats we face are shared, and cross international boundaries. These threats include illegal fishing, drug and firearm trafficking, violence at sea and piracy.”
Another benefit of the visit was the opportunity to enhance people-to-people links. Commanding Officer of HMAS Glenelg, Lieutenant Commander Alexander Finnis, said his crew very much enjoyed the opportunity to interact with friends in the USCG Cutter Oliver Henry.
“Both crews enjoyed tours of each other’s ships, while command teams met to discuss our shared focus in operations in the Indo-Pacific. We also had the opportunity to socialise with each other in Cairns. These interactions reaffirm the long standing friendship which underpins an important regional and strategic partnership,” LCDR Finnis said.
Commanding Officer of HMAS Cairns, Commander Alfonso Santos, said it was a pleasure to have the USCG Cutter Oliver Henry and her crew at HMAS Cairns for the five-day port visit.
“The vessel was able to undertake logistics requirements and official visits while the crew relaxed and enjoyed the many wonderful things Cairns and the surrounding area have to offer, including our great seafood and local entertainment,” CMDR Santos said.
MBC is a multi-agency taskforce within the ABF and enabled by the people and capabilities of the ABF and ADF.
The United States Coast Guard is the maritime security, search and rescue and law enforcement service branch of the United States military.
