HMAS Melbourne during a Replenishment at Sea with Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria in the Middle East Area of Operations. (photo: ABIS Jayson Tufrey)
HMAS Melbourne conducted her first Replenishment At Sea (RAS) with Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort
Victoria, taking on 300,000 litres of fuel in less than 60 minutes.
The top-up of fuel allowed Melbourne to continue maritime patrols in the Arabian Sea in
support of Combined Task Force 151 (CTF
151) for Operation SLIPPER.
CTF 151 is a multi-national naval coalition, dedicated to
promoting security and prosperity across 2.5 million square miles of
international waters in the Middle East.
The main focus of CTF 151 is preventing piracy, reducing
illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment.
In the days leading up to the RAS, Melbourne communicated her requirement to take on fuel to CTF 151
who directed RFA Fort Victoria to
rendezvous with Melbourne in the Arabian Sea.
Fort Victoria is a
British supply ship 29 metres wide, 204 metres in length, a displacement of
33,675 tonne, a ship’s company of 134 personnel and a top speed of 20 knots.
Fort Victoria is capable of pumping 700,000 litres of fuel
per hour as she replenishes ships at sea.
Half the pumping rate was required for the RAS with Melbourne.
Melbourne’s
Commanding Officer, Commodore Brian
Schlegel said that a RAS is seamanship evolution that requires
concentration from everyone involved.
“Bringing 4800 tonnes of metal together at 12 knots, less
than 50 metres from 33,675 tonnes of metal, requires focus and ship handling
skills.
“Operating in this part of the world in hot conditions takes
its toll on the personnel on the upper decks during a RAS. That is something we
have to remain cognisant of when working in hot environments. Overall this was
a safe and successful RAS with Fort
Victoria,” Commodore Schlegel said.
While deployed, Melbourne
will conduct maritime security and interception operations in the Red Sea,
Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Horn of Africa region and Arabian Gulf
patrolling the strategically important Bab Al Mandeb strait between Yemen and
Eritrea, and the Strait of Hormuz.
It is anticipated that Melbourne
will RAS on a regular basis so that she can remain on station in the Middle
East Area of Operations undertaking maritime security patrols as a part of
Operation SLIPPER, Australia's contribution to the International Coalition
Against Terrorism. HMAS Melbourne is
under direct control of Joint Task Force 633.-Navy
HMAS Melbourne during a Replenishment at Sea with Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fort Victoria in the Middle East Area of Operations. (photo: ABIS Jayson Tufrey)
