Image Gallery: August 2009
11 August 2009
Tongan Ferry 'Princess Ashika' search and support mission
Australian Navy clearance divers have sharpened their skills as their mates continue the search for sunken ferry ‘Princess Ashika’.
The divers from Australian Clearance Diving Team One conducted drills at His Majesty’s Navy Base Masefield (Touliki).
The drills are an essential safety measure in the ongoing search operations.
Leading Seaman Clearance Diver Simon Scott was one of the first in the water during the initial reconnaissance to find the ferry.
“On the way out I was thinking of what I was about to come across … I have done searches like this before,” LSCD Scott said.
“I did a job out at Sydney on a Japanese midget submarine.”
The 16 divers from AUSCDT ONE and their Anzac cousins from New Zealand’s Operational Dive Team, had arrived on Tongan soil by the morning of Saturday 8 August in response to a Tongan Government request to their respective governments.
While LSCD Scott and his team mates donned their dive gear, a joint mission from both teams aboard the Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai continued their search for the ferry.
“We really want to find the vessel, it’s our job to be here,” LSCD Scott said.
“We are happy to be here to assist the Tongan Government and their families.”
The Princess Ashika sank on Wednesday 5 August.
Tongan Police Force figures indicate that of 149 people believed to be onboard the Princess Ashika, 54 survivors and two bodies have been recovered. Ninety three people are still unaccounted for.
The Royal New Zealand Navy deployed a REMUS (Remote Environment Measuring Underwater System), a torpedo-like unit which can gather imagery at depths beyond the deployed capabilities of the ANZAC divers. REMUS allowed the divers to scour their search area for signs of the ferry.
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(L-R) Acting Commander Tonga Defence Service Commander Satisi Vunupolo talks to the Executive Officer of the Australian Clearance Diving Team One, (AUSCDT ONE) RAN Lieutenant Ben Fennell during a daily update brief for Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 09 August 2009)
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(L-R) Acting Commander Tonga Defence Service Commander Satisi Vunupolo talks to the Executive Officer of Australian Clearance Diving Team One, (AUSCDT ONE) RAN Lieutenant Ben Fennell and Officer In Charge of the New Zealand Diving Contingent, Operational Diving Team (ODT) Lieutenant Commander Andrew Mcmillan during a daily update brief for Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 09 August 2009)
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Officer In Charge of the New Zealand Operational Diving Team (ODT) Lieutenant Commander Andrew Mcmillan (right) explains the REMUS (Remote Environment Measuring Underwater System) imagery unit during a daily update brief for operation Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 09 August 2009)
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Divers from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE), Seaman Scott Broughton and Able Seaman Jess McMichael prepare gear for diving during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 09 August 2009)
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Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai departs His Majesty’s Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) for a reconnoiter during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 09 August 2009)
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(L-R) Royal New Zealand Navy's Operational dive team member Able Diver (ADR) Billy Keyworth, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) member Able Seaman Jess McMichael and Lance Corporal Helmut Tuipulotu operate a Amron Panel, Am Command 2, which provides communication to divers conducting dive drills at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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(L-R) Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) member Leading Seaman Simon Scott, prepares for a dive assisted by RAN AUSCDT ONE member Seaman Jason Lavis, during diving drills at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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(L-R) Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) members Dragan Ivanovic and Able Seaman Chris Bowler assist RAN AUSCDT ONE member Seaman Scott Broughton as he launches into the water during diving drills at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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(L-R) Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) member Seaman Scott Broughton conducts diving drills at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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(L-R) Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) member Able Seaman Chris Bowler assists RAN AUSCDT ONE member Seaman Scott Broughton during diving drills at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai Arrive's at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) with Togan Defence Personnel and Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) after a reconnoiter during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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Members from the Royal New Zealand Navy's Operational Dive Team, Royal Australian Navy Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) and Tongan Defence Personnel arrive and unload the Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki) after a reconnoiter during OP Ashika Assist.
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) and Tongan Defence Personnel load a RAN recompression chamber onto Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki).
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Clearance Diving Team One (AUSCDT ONE) and Tongan Defence Personnel load a RAN recompression chamber onto Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai at His Majestyís Navy Base Masefield (Touliki).
(Date taken: 10 August 2009)
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