General News
18 September, 2022
Pacific support vessel departs on humanitarian mission
THE Pacific Support Vessel, Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant, commenced her inaugural deployment from Cairns on Tuesday, September 13, further enhancing Australia’s support to the Pacific family and our closest neighbours.
Timor-Leste will be Reliant’s first stop en route to the Pacific, where she will visit seven Pacific island countries over the coming months, providing surveillance support and delivering essential cargo.
Commander of Australian Defence Force Operations in the South West Pacific, Major General Scott Winter, said Reliant would boost Australia’s capacity to respond quickly in times of need through an enhanced, enduring presence in the region.
“Reliant will be used for a range of missions, planned in partnership with Pacific neighbours,” Major General Winter said.
“As a highly adaptable vessel, Reliant will expand the range of support Defence provides across the region, including search and rescue, maritime surveillance, transport of essential cargo, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.”
Reliant is 102 metres long, has a large cargo deck and a large crane, and can produce thousands of litres of fresh water per day.
On her first deployment, Reliant will carry three containers of humanitarian and disaster response stores, enhancing Australia’s ability to work with our Pacific partners and Timor-Leste in support of early, rapid responses to disasters and crises in the region.
