Brunei ties strengthen

ABOVE: Geelong exits the syncrolift and heads for the shed after Ex Penguin. She will undergo four weeks of general maintenance. Photo by LSPH Tracy Casteleijn.

The group was led by the XO of Geelong, LCDR Mark Daly, who presented information about the boats as souvenirs to the centre’s principal, Abdul Rahman Hj Apong. LCDR Daly was in turn presented with a souvenir framed cross-stitch.

HMAS Geelong (LCDR David Moncrieff) and HMAS Cessnock (LCDR Matt Moncrieff) have recently completed Ex Penguin off the coast of Brunei.

The exercise, held every two years, is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between Australia and Brunei.

This year, the eight-day exercise, including a day and a half at sea, focused on boarding party skills. In the classroom, members of the minor war vessel sea training group gave instructions on boarding party operations, while at sea, our neighbours gained practical experience in stopping and boarding vessels, interviewing the CO and determining the legality of the vessel, OOW manoeuvres and light-line transfers.

The participants of Penguin worked up to a counter exercise, with units split into two groups, Cessnock with one group of Bruneians and Geelong with the other. The aim was to attack an oil rig at night and it has been noted the ‘baddies’ led by Geelong, were successful in their attack.

After Penguin, the ships’ companies were invited to play soccer, taken out to dinner by their hosts and enjoyed some time at a local fun park.

• By LSCISSM Rachel Irving

 

 

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