Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Perth has conducted a security patrol of Western Australia’s North West Shelf, before departing for the Middle East as part of Operation Manitou.
The Royal Australian Navy said on Monday that the Anzac class frigate departed Rockingham on June 7 to relieve of duty the Adelaide class frigate, HMAS Darwin . Both vessels are Australia’s contribution to the maritime security operation in the Middle East.
Commanding Officer of the Perth, Captain Ivan Ingham , said the domestic operations en route to the destination are a part of Australia’s wider Border Protection plan which is an important Defense contribution to the Government’s maritime security arrangements for a strategic and economically vital region.
Ingham said: “The Royal Australian Navy’s routine and directed patrols provide a visible deterrence and surety that Defence is able to project force to respond to emerging situations and threats.”
The region is of great importance to the country since more than 40 percent of all oil and gas production, and 65 percent of Western Australia’s domestic gas needs comes from oil and gas platforms in the North West Shelf.
Australia’s LNG industry is also the sixth largest in the world while its Pilbara region accounts for approximately 20 percent of its exports.
The Royal Navy added that this particular patrol was enhanced by the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopter embarked on the Perth. The helicopter allows a much larger surface search and more extensive surveillance capabilities of the region.