Tim Barrett News

The much awaited announcement for the replacement to the current Armidale Class patrol boats was announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Russell Offices in Canberra. Lürssen was named as the prime contractor for the 12 new Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) with the Australian PV80 variant. It will be 80 metres in length with a displacement of 1700 tonnes and a draught of 4 metres. The vessels will be fitted with a 40mm gun for self-protection, three 8.4m sea boats, state of the art sensors as well as command and communication systems. This will allow the OPVs to operate alongside Australian Border Force vessels, other Australian Defence Force units and our regional partners.

The Royal Australian Navy is hosting the biennial Sea Power Conference with senior naval delegations from around the world descending on Sydney for three days of discussions and Navy-to-Navy engagements. Run alongside the Pacific 2017 international maritime exposition, Sea Power Conference is Navy’s premier gathering of naval chiefs and this year will explore the broad theme of ‘The Navy and the Nation’, focusing on maritime identity, the significance of maritime economics and use of the oceans. Delivering the keynote address at the welcome breakfast, the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, said Sea Power Conference was a hallmark event for Defence and Australia.

Australia’s amphibious capability was put to the test recently as the Amphibious Task Group Headquarters took charge of the largest amphibious assault conducted by an Australian force for 70 years as part of Exercise TALISMAN SABER. The assault, led from amphibious sssault ship HMAS Canberra, was a significant milestone in the Australian Defence Force’s development of a high end amphibious warfare capability. The Australian and New Zealand Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of HMA Ships Canberra and Choules and the Royal New Zealand Navy’s HMNZS Canterbury, landed 600 embarked personnel, predominantly consisting of the Australian Army's 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, as part of a flanking force for the US Marine Corps’ 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Australia's Armidale class patrol boat HMAS Launceston has tested trainees and strengthened regional relationships in a recent deployment to south-east Asia. Launceston departed Australia after sailing from Darwin on 10 March in-company with sister-ship HMAS Pirie. The crews conducted 25mm, 12.7mm and small arms firing serials and undertook close quarters steaming, internal damage control, boat drills and communications training to help their junior warfare officers to practice their mariner skills. Upon completion Pirie commenced border protection duties in Australia's northern waters, whilst Launceston continued north to the Indonesian archipelago through the Sape Strait between the islands of Subawa and Komodo pasing an active volcano.

Sailors and officers in Canberra have put Navy’s Resilience Plan into practice, by teaming up for dragon boat racing on Lake Burley Griffin. The event was organised by the New Generation Navy program team as an opportunity to build teamwork and fitness in a relaxed environment. Among the 32 paddlers who signed up were Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett and Deputy Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Michael Noonan, who enjoyed the fierce but friendly competition. The paddlers were drawn from a wide range of areas and each varied in experience, and it was local unit, Australia's Federation Guard’s Petty Officer Maritime Logistics - Support Operations Sonia Leon Sepulveda’s second dragon boating experience.

Each year on 8 March, Australian Navy joins with institutions and organisations around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognising the achievements and vital role women deliver in the workforce. In 1911, when International Women’s Day began, the only ladies in the fleet were ships. Now, over a century later, women a part of the fabric of Navy, represented across all ranks and in every employment category. The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, said the day was a chance to build awareness of the obstacles women face. “Navy is proud of the contribution made by women and is committed to fostering an environment that enables the continued achievements of women,” Vice Admiral Barrett said.

Despite the oft sung words in the national anthem, Australians live often detached from the reality that “…our home is girt by sea”. In Canberra on 30 January, senior Defence leaders gathered at the Australian War Memorial to help launch a book that highlights Australia’s reliance on sea trade and a formidable Navy to protect sea lanes and prosperity. In the presence of His Excellency, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC (Ret’d), Governor General of Australia, Dr Brendan Nelson, Director of the Australian War Memorial, quoted the opening of the national anthem as he spoke at the launch of “Navy and the Nation” written by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett.

Family and friends joined Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett on the wharf at Garden Island, Sydney to welcome HMAS Darwin home from a successful Middle East deployment. During her Operation MANITOU rotation, Darwin and her Ship’s Company seized a large cache of illicit weapons and narcotics. Vice Admiral Barrett  praised Darwin’s Ship’s Company on their accomplishments. “By removing weapons and drugs from circulation, you made a tangible difference, limiting terrorist organisations’ ability to raise money,” Vice Admiral Barrett said. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said the men and women serving in the guided missile frigate worked hard to accomplish their mission. “Every family here today can be justifiably proud of their loved one.

Twenty weeks since walking through the gates of HMAS Creswell to start initial training, 104 naval officers graduated today. Friends and family were on hand to share in the achievements of the 82 men and 22 women. Honouring a long-standing commitment to the New Entry Officers, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, reviewed the parade, hosted by Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN. “While we celebrate the achievements of the officers on parade today, our thoughts are also with the family and friends of a sailor who died during a port visit in the Middle East region,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said. Students on the New Entry Officers Course 54 were introduced to the history and ethos of the Royal Australian Navy in the 20 week course.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) formally commissioned Navy Headquarters – South Queensland as HMAS Moreton today in a ceremony steeped in tradition. The Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, together with Senators Joanna Lindgren and Chris Ketter, joined the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, to mark the significant and rare occasion. “The Navy last commissioned an establishment in 1978 and today’s transition of Navy Headquarters South Queensland to HMAS Moreton recognises the enduring relationship Navy has with Brisbane,” Vice Admiral Barrett said. Moreton provides administrative support for Navy members in the area…

A state-of-the-art simulation facility has been opened in Sydney that will enhance training for Royal Australian Navy technical sailors. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, officially opened the $90 million Navy Training Systems Center at Randwick Barracks, and said the purpose-built facility would revolutionise how Navy prepares Marine and Electronic Technicians for their roles in the Fleet. “This next generation training facility will ensure Navy can fully utilize the extraordinary capabilities of both the Canberra class amphibious ships and the Hobart class destroyers…

HMAS Darwin has conducted a passage exercise with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) Escort Task Group 152 off the coast of Queensland. The task group consists of three ships—the Luyang Class destroyer Jinan, (DDG-152), the Jiangkai Class frigate Yiyang (FFG-548), and the Fuchi Class replenishment ship Qindaohu. (AOR-886). The task group will spend five days in Brisbane from 2 January 2016. The PLA-N task group, completed counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden in 2015 before embarking on a global deployment that has seen the task group visit more than a dozen countries during the past five months. The task group is in the final stages of its global deployment and will return to China in early 2016.

Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, and friends and family at Garden Island, Sydney, to farewell the 229 Royal Australian Navy personnel onboard HMAS Darwin as the ship sailed for the Middle East region. Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, CSC and Bar, RAN, spoke to the assembled crowd and noted that while most Australians were spending the festive season with their loved ones, Darwin was deploying on an important mission…

Shipbuilder Austal on Wednesday welcomed the Australian Minister for Defense, Senator Marise Payne, to Austal’s Western Australian shipyard for a look at the company’s naval vessel design, construction and sustainment capabilities.   The Defense Minister’s delegation, which included Senator Linda Reynolds and Senator Chris Back, was joined by Western Australia Premier, Colin Barnett and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett for a tour of one of two OPV-sized High Speed Support Vessels; designed and constructed by Austal for the Royal Navy of Oman.

Australia has farewelled a Royal Australian Navy ship that has served the country for over three decades in a ceremony today on Sydney Harbour. The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK MC (Retd), together with the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, attended the decommissioning of HMAS Sydney, at her homeport of Garden Island, Sydney. Minister Payne paid tribute to the service of ship’s company past and present. The Australian White Ensign was lowered from the ship for the last time, and handed to Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander David Murphy, RAN, as is the tradition for Navy during decommissioning ceremonies.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted a port visit and naval exercise with the People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) in Zhanjiang, China during the period 31 October to 2 November. The port visit by HMA Ships Stuart and Arunta to Zhanjiang included a combined planning session for the exercise, official functions with local dignitaries, sporting activities, discussions on the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, and other mariner skills training. The visit concluded today (2 November) with a combined exercise involving joint search and rescue training, tactical evolutions, communications drills, and a live fire activity. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett…

The Royal Australian Navy’s Amphibious Ship, HMAS Canberra, has completed a graduated operational test and trials program to achieve a key milestone towards Initial Operating Capability. The program included integration of landing craft as well as trials for both the crew, ship and aviation systems. The Navy’s S70B Seahawk, Army’s S70A Blackhawk and the joint MRH-90 Taipan helicopters have now all been evaluated for operations from the Canberra class ships. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, said the milestone meant that Canberra had successfully conducted the required training and evaluation to undertake specific Government directed operations.

The Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Retd), together with the Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert, MP, and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, today attended the decommissioning of HMAS Tobruk to bid the ship a fond farewell in Sydney. “In a time-honoured tradition, the Australian White Ensign was lowered for the last time and handed to Commanding Officer, Commander Leif Maxfield,” Mr Robert said. Tobruk provided sterling service and contributed to operations in Somalia, East Timor and the Solomon Islands, and conducted extensive work both in Australia and around the South West Pacific. “She has been the workhorse of the Fleet,” Mr Robert said.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, was joined at HMAS Cairns today by his Philippine counterpart, Flag Officer in Command Philippine Navy, Vice Admiral Jesus Millan, at a ceremony to gift two decommissioned Australian Balikpapan class landing craft to the Government of the Philippines. Super Typhoon Haiyan caused significant devastation to the Philippines in November 2013 and approximately 500 Australian Defence Force personnel, including the crew of HMAS Tobruk and a deployment of Army Engineers, provided in-country support to the relief effort, at the request of the Philippines Government. “The relief effort highlighted the importance of regional sea lift options due to numerous airfields being inaccessible and land infrastructure impassable…

The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour rounded Cape Horn on Australia Day, 36 days into a 12-month circumnavigation of the world. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO, CSC, RAN congratulated the 36 seafarers on board the square-rigged tall ship, including 12 Royal Australian Navy crew and 24 alumni crew specially selected for the passage. Vice Admiral Barrett said the passage around the southernmost tip of South America remained one of the most challenging nautical routes on the planet, and was a significant achievement for the crew of Young Endeavour. “Young Endeavour’s Navy crew are specially trained and the alumni crew were selected for their experience sailing the brigantine previously.

The Royal Australian Navy operated Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour rounded Cape Horn on Australia Day, 36 days into a 12-month circumnavigation of the world. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO, CSC, RAN congratulated the 36 seafarers on board the square-rigged tall ship, including 12 Royal Australian Navy crew and 24 alumni crew specially selected for the passage. Vice Admiral Barrett said the passage around the southernmost tip of South America remained one of the most challenging nautical routes on the planet, and was a significant achievement for the crew of Young Endeavour.

GE Marine’s LM2500 aeroderivative marine gas turbine now powers the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) recently commissioned HMAS Canberra Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, the first of two LHDs to be introduced into the RAN fleet. According to the RAN’s website, “Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett said that the commissioning was a step towards developing the future of the Navy. ‘HMAS Canberra is an exciting addition to the Royal Australian Navy. HMAS Canberra also marks another…

Governor General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Retd), together with the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Mr Tony Abbott, MP, were the guests of honour today as Australia’s first Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) was welcomed into service in the Royal Australian Navy. The Australian White Ensign was raised for the first time, signaling that HMAS Canberra III was formally commissioned into the Fleet. Navy, Army and Air Force members of ship’s company lined the aircraft hangar as invited guests witnessed the historic event. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, AO, CSC, RAN, said the commissioning was a step towards developing the future of the Navy. “HMAS Canberra is an exciting addition to the Royal Australian Navy.