19 March 2026
HMAS Leeuwin is taking on a new role, leading six Pacific nations’ Guardian-class patrol boats as a task unit while they transit the 1300 nautical miles to Jervis Bay as part of Exercise Kakadu.
The voyage marks a shift from Leeuwin’s normal way of operating, working alone.
Leeuwin will also have the privilege of being the reviewing vessel for the Kakadu Fleet Review, with Governor-General Sam Mostyn on board to conduct the review.
Leeuwin is the last of two Leeuwin-class hydrographic survey vessels commissioned to the Royal Australian Navy. Her sister ship, HMAS Melville, was decommissioned in late 2024.
Ordinarily, Leeuwin works in the far north as a hydrographic survey vessel, and through surveying operations makes vessel passages safer and helps protect Australia's ocean environment.
This role is often executed solo, with only autonomous underwater vessels used to assist.
However, as the lead vessel in the task unit, Leeuwin is working anything but alone for this voyage.
The ship has many responsibilities within the task unit, including safe navigation planning, communications and logistics support, and the coordination of training serials and activities.
'It’s rare that we get a chance to operate in company with other ships, especially ships from six different nations.'
Navigating Officer Lieutenant Peter Breunig has found the experience enriching but challenging.
“It’s rewarding, standing on the bridge, looking back from the bridge wing or watching the radar and seeing all the ships in their positions behind us, particularly at night when all you can see is a row of navigation lights,” Lieutenant Breunig said.
“The hard thing about creating the navigation plan for this exercise is that the nations are from all over the Pacific. They have different primary languages and have slightly different operating procedures, which all need to be taken into account.”
Lieutenant Breunig has planned a series of independent vessel detachments that will allow the Guardian-class patrol boats to execute high-speed manoeuvres, providing opportunities for their ships’ companies to keep their vessels running optimally.
Later in the transit, there will be a series of training serials known as officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres, where each of the ships will take turns moving into a series of positions around Leeuwin to provide training opportunities for ship handling.
Commanding Officer Leeuwin Commander Shaun Poing-Destre said it was a unique opportunity to work alongside mariners from various Pacific nations.
“It’s rare that we get a chance to operate in company with other ships, especially ships from six different nations,” he said.
“So far there have been some challenges, notably when the weather and sea state deteriorated, and ships had to operate at the limit of visual range.
“I’m extremely proud of my crew. This isn’t the type of sailing they’re used to, but they have all risen to the challenge exceptionally.”
The task unit will rendezvous in Jervis Bay with the other units participating in Exercise Kakadu before participating in the Kakadu Fleet Review on March 21.
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