Protecting the Pacific one boat at a time
The ADF has concluded Operation Solania 26-4, deploying a KA350 King Air to the Republic of Kiribati in support of regional maritime security efforts.
Working alongside Pacific partners through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the ADF contingent provided maritime surveillance capabilities to assist regional nations in strengthening economic protection across the Pacific.
Contingent Commander and KA350 captain, FLTLT Albert van de Vyver, said the deployment highlighted Australia’s enduring commitment to supporting Pacific partners and promoting regional security.
“It’s great to be here and to provide an airborne asset in support of our Pacific neighbours,” FLTLT van de Vyver said.
“Australia has partnered with Kiribati on maritime security for three decades. For us, it’s been wonderful to be able to continue that relationship and work with the local authorities in the protection of their exclusive economic zone.”
'In total, surveillance activities recorded 149 vessel sightings, with 13 vessels of interest identified to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and transnational crime across the Pacific region.'
Throughout the operation, the Australian contingent conducted maritime surveillance across more than 108,000 square nautical miles of Kiribati waters, contributing to a coordinated regional effort to enhance maritime domain awareness and safeguard one of the world’s largest ocean regions.
The deployment formed part of Operation Kurukuru, a multinational FFA-led operation that brought together fisheries, maritime, law enforcement and Defence personnel from 17 FFA member nations’ countries.
RAN FFA Surveillance Operations Officer CMDR Khan Beaumont said the operation continued to demonstrate the value of regional cooperation in addressing shared maritime security challenges.
“Operation Kurukuru was the FFA’s largest regional fisheries surveillance operation of the year, with participating countries coordinating maritime and aerial patrols, satellite surveillance and intelligence analysis across 30.5 million square kilometers of maritime jurisdiction,” CMDR Beaumont said.
“In total, surveillance activities recorded 149 vessel sightings, with 13 vessels of interest identified to counter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and transnational crime across the Pacific region.”
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