LEEUWIN alongside HMAS CAIRNS

Nuship LEEUWIN, the first of class and namesake of the LEEUWIN class hydrographic ships was delivered to the Commonwealth and provisionally accepted into the RAN on March 9 2000. The Chairman of NQEA Australia, Mr Don Fry, and the Head Systems Acquisition, RADM Lamacraft signed the Certificate of Delivery.

LEEUWIN, currently berthed alongside HMAS CAIRNS undertaking post delivery maintenance, is being prepared for a busy period of first-of-class trials culminating in a workup before deploying on her first survey in June.

LEEUWIN's sister ship MELVILLE is scheduled to be accepted this month and will join LEEUWIN during the workup period to act as consort and then conduct her own workup.

The introduction of the LEEUWIN class hydrographic ships will greatly enhance the RAN Hydrographic Service's ability to map the ocean depths.

Between now and then the ships will also achieve another milestone when they are commissioned into the RAN.

A joint commissioning ceremony for LEEUWIN and MELVILLE will be held at Trinity Wharf, Cairns, on May 27 2000.

It is believed to be the first time in the history of the RAN that two ships have been commissioned simultaneously.

More than 700 guests have been invited to the ceremony.

In another first for the RAN the commissioning ceremony will have two guests of honour. Mrs Judy Taylor, wife of VADM Rod Taylor (Rtd) and a former Chief of Navy, will be LEEUWIN's guest of honour.

Mrs Joan Johnston, wife of the late CDRE Eric Johnston, the last commanding officer of HMAS MELVILLE (I), will be MELVILLE guest.

All three hydrographic ship's companies will be on parade during the ceremony.

The ship's companies, known as Red Crew (CMDR B.J. Kafer), White Crew (CMDR R.R. Nairn) and Blue Crew (LCDR C.J. Hardy) will rotate between the two ships allowing the "off-watch crew" time to take leave and attend advancement courses.