Australian vessel to combat maritime crime

By Ranil Wijayapala

When Sri Lanka hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November 2013, the presence of the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott added special significance to Sri Lanka as he always looked at the Sri Lanka situation in a practical way unlike other western leaders who had a prejudged opinion regarding the Sri Lankan situation.

Colombage, Mudie and two Naval officers view the harbour from the deck

The bay Class vessel

Vice Admiral Colombage presents a memento to High Commissioner Mudie

The Navy Commander, Colombage, High Commissioner Mudie with Navy officers

His visit to the Sri Lanka Navy flag ship Sayura during his stay in Colombo, in appreciation of the role played by the Navy in combating illegal boat people to Australia and its cooperation with the Australian government in implementing its new policy on preventing people smuggling.

Criticism

It was during his visit to SLN Sayura that Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott commended the Sri Lanka Navy’s efforts in preventing people smuggling and pledged the gift of two fully refurbished Bay-class patrol boats to augment the SLN’s capacity to cover a large area of the Indian Ocean and serve search and rescue operations more effectively.

But there was scepticism about the materialising of the pledge of the Australian government, as his good will gesture towards Sri Lanka Navy came under criticism in the international media as well as in the media in Australia. However, the criticisms did not discourage the Australian Government from honouring its pledge to the Government.

When it takes years for such pledges to materialise, it took only few months for the Australian government to deliver its promise as the Navy witnessed the arrival of the first Bay Class vessel at the Colombo Port, last Thursday after being handed over to Navy Commander Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage in Cairns, Australia on March 29.

The flag transfer ceremony, which marked the passing of responsibility, authority and accountability of command of the vessel from one Flag state to another, took place in the presence of the officials representing the Australian Customs and Border Protection, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia, Admiral (retd) Thisara Samarasinghe, Commander of the Navy and the Sri Lanka Navy crew, who were to take vessel’s 4800 nautical-mile voyage home.

The vessel, arrived at the Colombo Port in the presence of Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Robyn Mudie, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage other high ranking Navy officers and the sailors marking yet another event that symbolised the enhancing maritime security in the region and the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Memorable day

The Bay Class boat served the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under the name Corio Bay before being gifted to Sri Lanka. It is 38.2 metres long and has a 2.3 metre draft. With a maximum speed of 24 knots, the boat can cover a range of 3,000 nautical miles.

Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage addressing the gathering at the ceremony to receive the board said that the event marked a special and memorable day for the Sri Lanka Navy and also for cooperation between the peoples of Australia and Sri Lanka.

“As people when we do a job well, we receive medals, commendations and rewards. When the Navy performs well we get just words. But this gift, the beautiful ship we have received from the Government of Australia is in appreciation of the work done by the Navy in preventing irregular migration from sea,” the Navy Commander said.

Fruitful

The Navy's efforts in apprehending illegal migrants to Australia has been fruitful during the past few years as Sri Lanka has now become a legal a source of migration in 2013 against 2011 and 2012, the commander said quoting media reports of Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrisson's speech.

According to Australian media reports the number of Sri Lankans who became Australian citizens jumped 74 percent to 3,456 last year, while there were 4,987 Sri Lankans who came to Australia legally with visas for work and for family reunions, the media reported.

Menace

“The Sri Lankans who received citizenship should thank the Sri Lanka Navy and the Australian government because we stopped the people going there by illegal means and we encourage people to go through legal channels,” he said.

This is due to Sri Lanka Navy's long and dedicated commitment which started somewhere in 2009 and blossomed in 2011 when it started apprehending irregular migrants, dedicating its resources to curb this menace which is actually a maritime crime, the commander said.

“We were dedicated and we were committed to preventing illegal migrants and our leader President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa wanted us to stop it. We concentrated all our efforts to curb this menace of maritime human trafficking,” he said.

“As a source country I believe Sri Lanka is the only country which has acted in a responsible manner in preventing people leaving our shores illegally. The figures speak of our commitment. We have seized more than 84 boats and arrested more than 4,400 people while rescuing more than 350 foreign nationals Bangladeshis, Indian and other nationals. This reward we have received from the government of Australia is for the job we have done,” he said.

He said Sri Lanka has always been keen to maintain the freedom of the sea in the Indian ocean and added that even at the height of the LTTE terrorism the Government and the Navy ensured that the proliferation of large scale trafficking of small arms was totally eliminated from the Indian ocean.

He said after eradicating the menace of terrorism the Sri Lanka Navy witnessed yet another proud moment when Australian Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka Navy flagship SLN Sayura and then announcing the donation of two Bay Class ships in appreciation of our work in combating human smuggling.

Pirates

“That was not limited to words and that pledge materialised within a short period”, the Commander added.

The Commander said the said the second ship will also arrive in the country soon.

“This gift by the Australian government will enhance the maritime abilities and maritime search abilities of the Navy and preventing of maritime crime at sea and thereby the entire world can breath a sigh of relief,” he said.

He said some small group of Somali pirates numbering not more than 2,000 are trying to hold the entire merchant marine fleets in ransom. The Navy will not allow such a situation to develop in its territorial waters or the surrounding waters, he said.Therefore, through these enhanced abilities we are committed and determined to ensure the freedom of sea, the commander said.

“It is not only for Sri Lanka and the region but for the sake of the world,” he said.

Giving more details of the vessel, the commander said the vessel has more than 1,000 nautical miles endurance and it can be at sea for more than 21 days. It has the capacity to carry fuel, provisions and water to stay out at sea for a long period.

“It has the ability to engage in rescue operations at sea as it has two boats which can be lowered and go to smaller boats which are in distress and rescue people and come back.

This will be a multi-role and multi-purpose vessel for Sri Lanka Navy,” he said.

It can take even in rough seas because the ship has stabilisers.

The vessel which has been named P350 will be commissioned with a name once the second vessel arrives in Sri Lanka in June.

Australian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Robyn Mudie said the significant event marked another step in cooperation between Sri Lanka and Australia in combating people smuggling.