August 2009 - HMNZS CANTERBURY DELIVERS VEHICLES AND STORES TO DILI, TIMOR LESTE
For the first time a New Zealand warship has entered Dili’s small harbour to offload vehicles and equipment for New Zealand and Australian forces in the International Stabilisation Force.
HMNZS CANTERBURY was the largest military vessel to be seen in the Timor Leste capital for a long time and she attracted a high level of interest including a visit from the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta.
Image Right: Australian Defence Force Vehicles being delivered to Dili, Timor Leste (MC 09-0286-001).
With this visit New Zealand’s Amphibious Sea Support Vessel HMNZS CANTERBURY has successfully completed another pivotal stage in developing and showcasing her amphibious versatility and her significant ability in demonstrating New Zealand’s contribution to regional security.
After completing a very successful task to deliver the New Zealand Aid support to the island of Pukapuka in the Northern Cooks during EXERCISE TROPIC TWILIGHT in June, CANTERBURY departed the Devonport Naval Base in late July bound for Apia where she delivered 4 Iroquois Helicopters, 66 personnel and various vehicles and equipment for No 3 Squadron RNZAF’s involvement in a tropical flying exercise - EXERCISE TROPIC ASTRA.
Above Image: His Excellency the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta with the Commanding Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY - Commander Jim Gilmour. (MC 09-0286-002).
Also embarked onboard CANTERBURY were a number of New Zealand Army Vehicles earmarked to replace some of those that have been in use by the New Zealand Defence Force personnel as part of the International Stabilisation Force in Dili, Timor Leste.
Enroute to Dili CANTERBURY called in to Darwin to uplift a further 11 vehicles and 22 containers of stores and ammunition to deliver to the Australian Defence Force. The Commanding Officer of HMNZS CANTERBURY, Commander Jim Gilmour, said;
“The loading in Darwin was quite challenging as the tidal range is large which limits the availability of the ship’s side ramp. Consequently, crane operations were the safest option for loading containers which we achieved via removable hatches in the ship’s flight deck.”
CANTERBURY arrived in Dili for an overnight visit on 14 August and, due to her excellent manoeuvrability, was able to squeeze into the narrow, shoal surrounded harbour and proceed safely alongside. CANTERBURY immediately began the ‘offload’, and using her side ramp and one of her 60 tonne SWL cranes, all stores, vehicles and equipment were taken ashore within 6 hours.
The New Zealand Embassy in Dili used this opportunity to host a reception onboard CANTERBURY attended by many distinguished guests including His Excellency the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta. The Commanding Officer and the crew of CANTERBURY were delighted to have the opportunity to host several informal visits, all of which were very well received.
Uplifting the vehicles that had been replaced and loading them onboard with a number of other stores bound for New Zealand, CANTERBURY departed Dili in the early afternoon of Saturday 15 August bound for Bitung Waters in Indonesia where she will join 30 warships from 15 countries to participate in the Indonesian Fleet Review. After a week of festivities in the region, the major highlight of the Indonesian Fleet Review will have all the participants involved in a ‘sail past’. This event is scheduled for Wednesday 19 August in Manado Bay, North Sulawesi.
HMNZS CANTERBURY will head back to Apia in Western Samoa to uplift No. 3 Squadron RNZAF helicopters and personnel from EXERCISE TROPIC ASTRA. Embarked onboard CANTERBURY for the return journey home will be four RNZAF Iroquois Helicopters, 70 personnel, 15 containers and support vehicles/equipment. .
CANTERBURY is due back home to the Devonport Naval Base on 8 September.