Media Room: Defence Alert

DECOMMISSIONING HMAS ADELAIDE (FFG-01)

What:             HMAS Adelaide, the oldest of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Adelaide Class Frigates, will decommission, after 27 years of service, at her homeport at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia. 

When:            10:00am, Saturday 19 January 2008.

Where:           Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling.

Who:              Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP; Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Nigel Coates, AM, RAN; and the Commanding Officer HMAS Adelaide, Commander Robert Slaven, RAN; will be available for interview after the Decommissioning Ceremony.

Media Note: Media wanting to attend the Decommissioning Ceremony should arrive at Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling, Garden Island Western Australia by 9:30am at the Pass Office, Point Peron Road, Rockingham, for transportation to the wharf.  Media should advise Gary Booth of their attendance on

0418 223 807 by COB Friday 18 January. Photo identification will be required.

Background Information

·         HMAS Adelaide (FFG-01) is a long-range escort frigate, which has undertaken roles including surface warfare, air defence, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance and reconnaissance. Adelaide was built in the United States at Seattle’s Todd Pacific Shipyard Corporation and was commissioned into the RAN on 15 November 1980.

·         Adelaide is the second ship in the RAN to bear the name. Adelaide I was a light cruiser that served in the RAN between 1922-1946, witnessing action in WWII.

·         Adelaide was one of the first RAN warships to be deployed to the Gulf in 1990 as part of Operation Damask. Since then, Adelaide has deployed twice more to the Gulf as part of Operation Slipper in 2002 and Operation Catalyst in 2004.  Adelaide also assisted during both East Timor operations in 1999 and 2006.

·         Adelaide was the ship that conducted the search and rescue of lone yachtsmen Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore from the Southern Ocean in 1997. 

·         Following the Decommissioning, Adelaide will be gifted to the NSW Government, to be sunk off Terrigal, on the NSW Central Coast, as an artificial reef and dive attraction. The name Adelaide will not be missing from the Australian Fleet for long, with one of the new Canberra Class LHDs planned to bear the name.

Media contact:

Gary Booth – Regional Manager, Public Affairs, WA                0418 223 807

Defence Media Liaison:                                                           02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664