A Royal Australian Navy task unit departed Cairns on June 19, bound for the Pacific nation of Tuvalu to search for explosive remnants of war. 

At the request of the Government of Tuvalu, minehunters HMA Ships Yarra and Diamantina, and Pacific Support Vessel ADV Reliant, have deployed to conduct a survey operation of Nanumea Lagoon as part of Operation Render Safe. 

It is the first time that two minehunters have deployed together on operations since 2019. 

Embarked clearance divers will conduct reconnaissance to inform the Government of Tuvalu about the extent of explosive remnants of war present in the lagoon during July.

This mission builds on survey work conducted in 2022 and will support the Government of Tuvalu in planning future disposal activities and minimise the risk to personnel and vessels travelling within Tuvalu waters.

'... we are proud to be the latest to contribute to the safety of the Pacific region.'

Commanding Officer Yarra Lieutenant Commander Andrew Penfold said the task unit was eager to help make Nanumea Lagoon a safer place for the people of Tuvalu. 

“This is a significant deployment,” Lieutenant Commander Penfold said. 

“Australia has been working with Pacific partners for more than 20 years under Operation Render Safe, and we are proud to be the latest to contribute to the safety of the Pacific region.” 

He said the ships’ crews were ideally suited to the mission. 

“Our clearance divers have specialist capabilities such as hand-held sonar and GPS mapping, which will allow them to search along the bottom of the lagoon,” Lieutenant Commander Penfold said. 

The ships will first conduct a port visit to Honiara in Solomon Islands before transiting to Funafuti, Tuvalu. 

'This is a significant deployment.'

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians will accompany the Royal Australian Navy task unit to advise and assist with the operation.

The ships will also host dignitaries and conduct a commemorative service at the site where HMAS Canberra I was sunk during World War II.

Operation Render Safe is the ADF-led multinational commitment to removing the danger posed by World War II-era explosive remnants of war in Pacific Island countries.

The ADF has conducted two iterations of the operation in 2026. 

Operation Render Safe 26-1 was held in Papua New Guinea from June 1 to 20.