Warships ready to sail for fleet entry

Twenty Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and international warships are anchored in Jervis Bay, poised to sail into Sydney for the International Fleet Review (IFR).

They will form part of a global fleet of over 40 ships making a magnificent entry into Sydney Harbour between 6am – 4pm on Friday (4 October 2013) to commemorate the Navy’s very first fleet entry 100 years ago.

Director of the IFR Captain Nick Bramwell said you can feel the excitement and anticipation of the crews in Jervis Bay.

“The ships are currently at anchor after a busy period of consolidation between their first arrivals to Australia and passage to Jervis Bay, led by RAN HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Perth.

“We have a long and diverse list of international participants sailing alongside the RAN including representatives from Brunei, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the UK and the USA.

“After their time together in Jervis Bay they are all well integrated, well rehearsed and looking magnificent for the event. The ships coming from Jervis Bay will join the rest of RAN ships outside of Sydney heads before the big fleet entry,” Captain Bramwell said.

The fleet entry will be followed by a Ceremonial Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour by Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. This will take place from 11am – 2:30pm on Saturday 5 October.

On Saturday evening between 7:40 – 8:10 the public will be treated to a Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular in Sydney Harbour.

In addition, Navy band performances, air displays, parades, memorial services, sailing regattas and ship open days will occur throughout Sydney between 3 – 11 October 2013.

After the IFR, a number of warships will regroup to conduct maritime training activities under the auspices of Exercise Triton Centenary (Part Two) 2013, which will take place between 11 – 18 October in the East Australian Exercise Area.