Overlooking a calm Arafura Sea, about 300 participants from more than 30 nations attended the official opening of Exercise Kakadu at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin.
Senior leaders, including Administrator of the Northern Territory Hugh Heggie and Commander of the Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith, participated in a smoking ceremony conducted by Larrakia man Trent Lee, preceded by a Welcome to Country by Larrakia Elder Aunty Yvonne.
Rear Admiral Smith addressed the event, welcoming more than 3000 international Navy and Air Force personnel, ships from 10 countries, and aircraft from five, that will be undertaking activities during the Royal Australian Navy's largest international exercise.
This year's focus is collaboration, partnerships and upholding strength and security in the region.
"This is an opportunity for participants to get to know each other," Rear Admiral Smith said.
"Looking at the many ships, aircraft and submarines, it's easy to be captured by the technology, but the maritime environment of which we, as naval and aviation practitioners, are a central part of is fundamentally a human endeavour.
"Individual connections build empathy and are essential to ensuring we all have a humanistic approach to problem solving. Cooperation is essential, especially in strategically ambiguous and challenging times."
The formal part of the evening's ceremony commenced with HMAS Warramunga's guard performing a 'beat to quarters' - a practice dating back centuries when a ship's drums were beaten to call the crew to man the guns and prepare the ship to fight.
This was followed by the Evening Hymn and a volley of blank fire, before the ceremonial sunset ensued - a naval tradition of saluting the lowering of the ensign at sunset each day - supported by musicians from the combined Northern Territory and Melbourne Royal Australian Navy Bands.
Complementing the event's more traditional Navy formalities, attendees were offered an educational experience with some of the local wildlife - a baby salt-water crocodile and carpet python.
Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy's largest and most significant biennial regional maritime engagement exercise hosted in Australia and will be conducted in and around Darwin and the Northern Australian exercise area from September 9-20.
