Media Release
26 September 2017
Australia’s largest Navy ship HMAS Adelaide has left Jakarta after a two-day visit to Tanjung Priok.
HMAS Adelaide is a landing Helicopter Dock ship (LHD), weighing 27800 tonnes and 230 metres in length, designed to provide medical and humanitarian assistance during regional emergencies with a 40-bed hospital, complete with 2 operating theatres. Its 200 metre flight-deck can carry up to 12 helicopters. More than 100 vehicles and 7000 tonnes of cargo can be stored inside.
HMAS Adelaide is leading a task group of six ships which are currently spread across the region, visiting Australia’s Asian neighbours. Exercise Indo Pacific Endeavour is designed to enhance and develop strong positive relations with regional militaries through both dialogue and practical activities.
The visits builds on earlier bilateral co-operation between the ADF and TNI as TNI members and Australian Defence personnel joined forces for Exercise Nusa Bhakti - a humanitarian and disaster relief exercise in Darwin. less than a week earlier.
Once in Jakarta, the close relationship was again on display with HMAS Adelaide playing host to a variety of Indonesian guests who were impressed by the ship’s capabilities. The Adelaide’s Commanding Officer Captain Jon Earley also took the opportunity to call in at the main Naval base in Jakarta and Western Fleet.
“We chose to visit Indonesia at the beginning of our mission because both our countries have a strategic interest in ensuring maritime security and maintaining a stable region,” Captain Earley said.
“These deployments are critical in maintaining a strong relationship between our two nations,” he said.
The Adelaide is being accompanied to Jakarta by the Frigate HMAS Toowoomba. Both ships are now on their way to Malaysia.
http://www.navy.gov.au/fleet/ships-boats-craft/lhd
http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-adelaide-iii