HMAS LEEUWIN

Sydney Harbour was graced by a "lady in white".

Lead ship of the RAN's white fleet, HMAS LEEUWIN came to the Navy's eastern degauzing range.

CAPT Bruce Kafer and his ship's company brought the 2,550 tonne hydrographic survey ship down the coast.

LEEUWIN and the other five survey vessels of the Hydrographic Survey Group are based in Cairns.

Photographer, LS Kevin Bristow took our picture of LEEUWIN, framed by trees and rocks, from Neilsen Park.

After her degauzing survey CAPT Kafer took his ship to the Overseas Passenger Terminalo at Circular Quay to allow an inspection tour by the media.

LEEUWIN is one of two newly commissioned ships based in Cairns and managed by the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong.

The Leeuwin class of vessel puts Australia at the forefront of hydrographic technology by incorporating a state of the art ship design with proven and newly developed technology.

The ship's design and operations have been tailored specifically to satisfy the Federal Government's responsibility for ensuring safe passage for shipping in Australian waters.

LEEUWIN boasts several "firsts" for the RAN.

As well as being the first hydrographic ship in the world to be designed totally using computers, LEEUWIN and sister ship HMAS MELVILLE, are the first ships of the same class to be commissioned into the RAN on the same day.

The two vessels have also incorporated a new crew management innovation for the RAN in that they are manned by three ship's companies who will rotate between the craft.

CAPT Kafer said he and his ship's company were pleased to come to Sydney for the first time.