Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce joined Navy to help people and explore the world.

Little did she know she would first see the world in Sydney Harbour, as she played a critical role in navigating one of Navy’s warships through the bustling waterway during the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review.

The young surface warfare officer joined Navy shortly after graduating high school in 2022, and played a key role in HMAS Stuart’s Fleet Review arrival.

“I was the chart for the entry, supporting the navigator who was driving the ship,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce said.

“During an entry, we take a fix every six minutes or after a wheel-over.”

In lay terms, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce acted as a manual GPS for the ship.

“We use fixed points like a lighthouse and take three bearings to triangulate the ship’s position, ensuring we are where our GPS systems say we are, and that we are maintaining the planned navigational track,” she said.

When taking bearings at sea or during pilotages, a navigational instrument called a pelorus is used. 

“Despite all of the high-tech and modern equipment we have on Australian ships these days, we still use the pelorus,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce said.

“Using the pelorus to manually triangulate our position means we have a second level of confirmation in addition to our GPS systems.”

Vessels from 19 nations sailed into Sydney Harbour for the Fleet Review, which took place on March 21.

'It was busy with lots on vessels on the water, but very cool to see all the ships coming in, and to experience all the ceremonial procedures being observed.'

Governor-General Sam Mostyn reviewed 31 vessels to commemorate 125 years since the foundation of Australia’s Navy.

“It was a different pilotage to anything I have ever seen,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce said.

“It was busy with lots on vessels on the water, but very cool to see all the ships coming in, and to experience all the ceremonial procedures being observed.”

The review was part of the wider Exercise Kakadu, the Royal Australian Navy’s premier multinational maritime engagement exercise, conducted biennially to strengthen maritime security cooperation, enhance interoperability and build partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

“During Kakadu, I’ve mostly been operating on the bridge, so I’ve had a full 360-degree view of what has been going on around us,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce said.

“We’ve conducted lots of flying exercises, as well as close-manoeuvring in company with other ships.”

One such manoeuvring exercise was the Kakadu PHOTEX, where the ships sailed in specific formations while a Navy imagery specialist captured photographs from a helicopter.

“Before we entered Sydney Harbour for the review, I was driving Stuart as we formed up in close company with 30 other ships for the exercise photograph,” Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce said.

“This was challenging working with the different ships due to our different procedures and communications.

“But this is partly why we engage in these exercises and it was really cool to see the final result.”

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Pierce hopes to receive her Anzac platform endorsement soon, and aspires to qualify as a boarding officer, before eventually specialising as a principal warfare officer.