Ships navigate weather to get their fill

HMAS Sydney wrapped up Exercise Pacific Dragon by dodging a hurricane to receive essential fuel and stores from USNS Washington Chambers.

Sydney participated in the US Navy-led biennial, multilateral ballistic missile defence and tactical data link information-sharing exercise from August 6 to 15, off the coast of Hawaii.

The exercise enhanced cooperation, improved information sharing, and refined the tactics and procedures necessary to operate in support of regional security and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Australia took part in the exercise alongside ships from the US, Chile, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Spain.

Sydney’s Deputy Maritime Logistics Officer LEUT Chris McHugh said, after more than a fortnight at sea, Sydney topped up fuel and stores before sailing onwards on a planned regional presence deployment.

“The team had coordinated a replenishment at sea [RAS] with USNS Washington Chambers to transfer fuel, food and other essentials,” LEUT McHugh said.

“The logistics and seamanship teams in particular were quite excited about the heavy jackstay transfer of stores as it enables us to develop our skills.

“The ship receives fuel at sea regularly but the transfer of stores is not so common.”

To complicate matters on the day, Hurricane Lala was forming and the task group that Sydney was sailing in was required to conduct weather avoidance to remain clear.

“Much like a lot of what happens at sea, we had to remain agile, but we managed to conduct the transfer of stores and fuel in good time and then depart the area before the hurricane approached,” LEUT McHugh said.

During a heavy jackstay, transferred goods are passed from one ship to another using lines and cables.

“Receiving the stores at sea meant we didn’t have to waste fuel and time going back into port. The RAS extended our endurance to remain on operations for longer.’’