After more than 30 years plying her trade in oceans across the world, the First Lady of the Fleet is continuing to pave the way for the next generation of RAN replenishment ships.

HMAS Success is exercising with Australia’s international partners as part of INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 2019.

On leaving the port of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Success and HMAS Parramatta conducted a Passage Exercise with the Sri Lankan Navy Ships Sindurala and Shankthi. The exercise included company ship manoeuvres and a number of Replenishment at Sea Approaches (RASAPs).

Commanding Officer Captain Darren Grogan said conducting RASAPs was an excellent way for both countries to familiarise themselves with each other’s replenishment at sea procedures.

“These serials were conducted as a part of a Passage Exercise as we left Sri Lanka and headed for our next port in India,” he said.

“And while we didn’t actually pass any hoses or pump fuel, we did send distance lines across to prove that both navies can work collaboratively together as required. 

“I was very pleased with the outcomes of the RASAPs and look forward to the opportunity to work with the Sri Lankan Navy again in the near future.”

Success, sailing in company with Parramatta, had recently completed a four-day visit to Trincomalee, a port city on Sri Lanka’s north-east coast.

The ships were in Sri Lanka as part of INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 2019, which consists of a Joint Task Force of more than 1000 personnel, four ships and various maritime patrol aircraft.

Running from March until May, INDO-PACIFIC ENDEAVOUR 2019 aims to promote security and stability in the region through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training and capacity-building.

Additional imagery is available on the Defence Image Gallery:
http://images.defence.gov.au/S20190720.