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Navy vessels help detain illegal boats
Volume 50, No. 16, September 06, 2007 |
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| ESCORT: A RHIB from HMAS Perth escorts one of the illegal boats into Darwin Harbour. |
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HMA Ships Albany and Perth helped detain three illegal fishing vessels in the vicinity of Evans Shoal, about 200km north-west of Darwin, on August 25.
Darwin-based Armidale Class Patrol Boat Albany was conducting Operation Resolute patrols when directed to investigate sightings made by a Coastwatch Dash 8 aircraft of three vessels, allegedly fishing illegally inside the Australian Fishing Zone.
The Coastwatch aircraft hotly pursued the fishing vessels and was replaced by a Darwin-based RAAF AP-3C Orion when fuel levels were low.
Both HMAS Albany and the RAAF AP-3C Orion coordinated efforts, enabling HMAS Albany to locate and apprehend the first fishing vessel. Then, with the RAAF AP-3C Orion being the communications conduit between the boarding party on the first vessel, HMAS Albany was able to continue in pursuit of the other fishing vessels.
After HMAS Albany personnel had boarded and secured the three vessels, Anzac Class Frigate HMAS Perth was tasked took the fishing vessels and crews back to Darwin for further processing by Australian Fisheries Management Agency, Department of Customs and Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
“This is a great example of the capabilities of the assets assigned to Operation Resolute getting the job done,” AIRCDRE Ian Meyn, Commander Northern Command, said.
He said it was a job well done that highlighted what high levels of interagency cooperation could achieve. |
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