Silencing the ghosts of war

A RAN task unit departed Cairns on June 19, bound for the Pacific nation of Tuvalu to search for explosive remnants of war.

At the request of the Government of Tuvalu, minehunter HMAS Diamantina and Pacific support vessel ADV Reliant have deployed to conduct a survey operation of Nanumea Lagoon as part of Operation Render Safe.

Embarked clearance divers are conducting reconnaissance to inform the Government of Tuvalu about the extent of explosive remnants of war present in the lagoon during July.

This mission builds on survey work conducted in 2022 and will support the Government of Tuvalu in planning future disposal activities and minimise the risk to personnel and vessels travelling within Tuvalu waters.

Chief of Joint Operations VADM Justin Jones said Operation Render Safe was a key contributor to a unified and secure Pacific.

“The ADF has worked with Pacific partners to support explosive ordnance disposal under Operation Render Safe for more than 20 years,” VADM Jones said.

“During these operations, we work side-by-side our regional partners and local authorities to conduct safe and deliberate identification and disposals of explosive ordnance removing the danger these pose to communities.”

The crews of Diamantina and Reliant were eager to help make Nanumea Lagoon a safer place for the people of Tuvalu.

Navy’s clearance divers have specialist capabilities such as hand-held sonar and GPS mapping, which will allow them to search along the bottom of the lagoon.

The ships first conducted a port visit to Honiara in the Solomon Islands before transiting to Funafuti, Tuvalu.

Royal Solomon Islands Police Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians are accompanying the RAN task unit to advise and assist with the operation.

The ships have hosted dignitaries and conducted a commemorative service at the site where HMAS Canberra I was sunk during World War II.

Operation Render Safe is the ADF-led multinational commitment to removing the danger posed by World War II-era explosive remnants of war in Pacific Island countries.

The ADF has conducted two iterations of the operation in 2026.

Operation Render Safe 26-1 was held in Papua New Guinea from June 1 to 20.