Multi-national submarine-rescue exercise wraps up in WA

A major international submarine search and rescue exercise has concluded off the coast of Western Australia.

Exercise Pacific Reach 2019, held at Fleet Base West and in the Western Australian Exercise Area, involved assets from Australia, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and the United States.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the exercise was vital to developing interoperability and trust with partner nations.

“During Exercise Pacific Reach the Royal Australian Navy’s Submarine Force and our regional partners demonstrated readiness and the ability to respond to the unlikely event of a submarine incident at sea,” Minister Reynolds said.

“Each nation’s submarine search, escape and rescue organisations took part in simulated rescues.

“HMAS Sheean and ROKS Lee Sun-sin, both successfully transferred participants while submerged, using the James Fisher Submarine Rescue System submersible LR5, with support from rescue units from Japan and the United States.

“Joint maritime exercises like Exercise Pacific Reach strengthen the already deep relationship that exists between Australia and our partners.”

Exercise Pacific Reach is a triennial multinational event, last hosted by the Republic of Korea in 2016.

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