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Sirius fun had by visitors
By LSPT Douglas Jackson

Volume 50, No.3, March 8, 2007
 
GREAT DAY: POCK Jim Wilkinson with his family on the container deck of HMAS Sirius during the cruise.
Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffe
 
A cruise through Cockburn Sound and out in the ocean just north of Rottnest Island gave family members an insight into the working day of a sailor onboard a the RAN’s newest ship.

HMAS Sirius (CMDR Tim Crawford) conducted a family day cruise on February 19, embarking 124 family members, friends and a number of Navy Cadets from TS Canning.

Guests were both excited and nervous at the prospect of a sea swell and the inevitable sickness that goes hand-in-hand, but fortunately there were flat seas and a light wind.

CMDR Crawford welcomed guests onboard and thanked families for their ongoing support.

Safety briefs were conducted including the fitting of life jackets and muster stations for life rafts.

Special sea dutymen and cable party close up, was the pipe as family members took their place on the bridge and container deck to observe their loved ones in action.

Much to the delight of children and adults alike, dolphins came to say hello and escorted the ship throughout the pilotage.

On the tour, guests were in awe of the sheer size of the bridge and the technological systems used for navigation.

The junior warfare officers explained some navigational techniques to the cadets, hopefully inspiring a few to pursue a naval career sometime in the future.

From the bridge it was down to the mess decks; boasting new flat-screen TVs, Foxtel, DVD players and Xbox systems.

In the engine room people’s eyes widened as they tried to fathom the size of the single engine that propels 38,000 tonnes of ship through the water.

Next was a demonstration of the ship’s fire fighting abilities, with the standing sea fire brigade acted out the procedure for fighting a fire.

As lunch time came it was clear that the chefs had worked hard to produce a buffet fit for royalty.

The small arms display was a great success with the ship’s bosuns mate’s showing off a range of weapons from 50 calibre machine guns to 9mm pistols.

As Sirius proceeded back to HMAS Stirling it was clear that family, friends and cadets had thoroughly enjoyed the cruise.

Smiles were evident on all faces.

Sirius will now prepare to sail to the east to participate in the fleet concentration period and a freedom of entry march at Norfolk Island.