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Personnel
from several nations work together during Exercise Bell
Buoy.
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Photo:
ABPH Brenton Friend
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In
times of war or periods of tension it is vital for navies to know
where civilian ships are going and what cargoes they are carrying.
This allows the ships, their crews and their cargoes to be protected
by warships.
Getting the information and getting it right, is not hit and miss
process.
For Allied navies it is a pre-determined operational plan called
Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS).
The plan is tested regularly and this year it was the Royal Australian
Navy’s turn to host NCAGS 04, Exercise Bell Buoy.
It was centred on Garden Island Sydney but involved ports and
civilian harbour controllers around Australia.
Held from April 26 to May 7, the exercise brought together representatives
from Canada, Chile, Republic of Korea, UK, USA, Singapore and
South Africa.
During the exercise there was interaction between the NCAGS team
and ship owners, operators and agents.
There was interaction with ships coming to, sailing through and
leaving the Australian SAR region, with port authorities, terminal
operators and with stevedores.
Interaction with Commonwealth government departments also took
place.
