HMAS Manoora retired as Navy’s future beckons

After 17 years of dedicated service, the Royal Australian Navy’s amphibious transport ship, HMAS Manoora, was decommissioned at her homeport ofGardenIsland, inSydney, today.

Following a time honoured tradition, the Australian White Ensign was lowered for the last time and handed to Commanding Officer,Commander Stephen Dryden, RAN.

Commander Dryden said Decommissioning the vessel was a bitter sweet moment.

“It is always sad to farewell a ship like Manoora, which has provided significant amphibious capability to the Australian Defence Force over her many years of service,” said Commander Dryden.

“Manoora has proven herself to be versatile and resilient, supporting humanitarian aid and disaster missions in the Solomon Islands and East Timor and undertaking active service in the Middle East as part of OperationsSlipper and Falconer.”

“Her hard work has paved the way for the future of the Navy by providing an understanding of how to carry out amphibious and expeditionary warfare,” said Commander Dryden.

“Today it is also important to acknowledge the hard work of the current and former crews who have calledManoora home. Their dedication has enabled the platform to respond to situations in war and peace, whenever tasked by Government to do so.”

Manoora is a helicopter capable amphibious transport ship with a 40 bed hospital, which has seen an army contingent embedded as part of her crew.

Media note:

Historic vision of HMASManoora was fed via Parliament House this morning

Vision of the decommissioning ceremony will be fed via Parliament House this afternoon

Imagery of HMAS Manoora in service and the decommissioning ceremony is available at:http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003=&search=20112900