The Royal Australian Navy and the Indonesian Armed Forces have completed a coordinated maritime patrol to improve security along our shared maritime border.
The tenth iteration of the Australian and Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol (AUSINDO CORPAT) 2020 was conducted on 2 and 3 December and covered waters between Australia and Indonesia.
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the two-day patrol was an important part of Australia and Indonesia's ongoing efforts to deepen defence cooperation.
"We recognise the importance of working together to support regional security and to promote a peaceful, prosperous and rules-based regional order," Minister Reynolds said.
"The patrol targeted all maritime security threats, including illegal fishing, but focused on improving the collection and sharing of information between our two nations."
Director-General Maritime Operations, Commodore Darren Grogan, CSM said it was important that Australia continued to demonstrate our commitment to our regional partners, especially during the challenges that the pandemic presents to both nations.
"AUSINDO CORPAT 2020 allowed crews from the RAN Armidale-class patrol boat, HMAS Wollongong, and Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL) vessels, KRI Lemadang and KRI Pandrong, to hone their combined maritime surveillance, security and interdiction skills," Commodore Grogan said.
The coordinated patrol was conducted under strict protocols to mitigate COVID-19 risks, including having no logistics visits outside of each boat's home country and no contact between the crews.
