Commanding Officer HMAS Sydney Commander Ben Weller handed over the weight of command to Commander Hayden Jenkins on June 25, after the ship arrived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Commander Weller said it had been an honour and a privilege to command Sydney as he thanked the ship’s company for their efforts during his tenure.

Commander Jenkins outlined his appreciation for the leadership and commitment of his predecessor. He further recognised the ongoing efforts of Sydney’s officers and sailors as they prepared to conduct the sea phase of RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise.

“RIMPAC provides an excellent training environment for Sydney to integrate with our regional allies and partners, while enhancing our maritime warfighting capabilities,” Commander Jenkins said.

“The sheer scale of RIMPAC permits a level of training complexity that is unsurpassed, bringing together a large number of participants to exercise high-end warfighting skills aligned with the RIMPAC theme of ‘Partners, Integrated and Prepared’.”

During RIMPAC, Sydney will highlight the ship’s capabilities, building on her success from the previous iteration of the exercise in 2024. 

Beyond the at-sea exercises, Sydney’s officers and sailors will conduct professional exchanges and build person-to-person relationships with partner nations.

Australia is one of 31 nations participating in RIMPAC, which includes about 30 surface ships, five submarines, more than 206 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel.