International resolve for Indo-Pacific maritime security was on show recently when HMAS Sydney joined with allies and regional partners in the Yellow Sea to conduct cooperative activities during Operation Argos.
Sydney received a replenishment at sea (RAS) and a vertical replenishment from German Navy's FGS Frankfurt am Main while Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS Aotearoa provided fuel to FGS Baden-Wurttemberg.
The ships also conducted officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres including a 'formation foxtrot'.
During this manoeuvre, the task group ships reverse their order in a column. Starting from the back, each ship pulls out to port (left) or starboard (right) as directed and speeds up to pass the lead ship.
Commanding Officer Sydney Commander Grant Coleman said getting to work with other nations during Operation Argos enhanced effectiveness, cooperation and helped build relationships with like-minded partners.
"HMAS Sydney is in the region as part of Operation Argos to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea," Commander Coleman said.
"It's good to be working with the German Navy and New Zealand Navy again after our recent interactions during RIMPAC and other cooperative activities.
"It's another valuable opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves and others how our respective navies can easily integrate when working in a common framework."
Throughout Operation Argos, Sydney and its embarked MH-60R helicopter, Phoenix, will monitor and deter illegal ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned goods in the region.
Boatswain's Mate Able Seaman Philip Bozinoski was the helmsman driving the ship under the direction of the officer of the watch for the manoeuvres, after which he was the batsman for the dump party for the RAS.
"As the batsman I was messaging and signalling the other ship, FGS Frankfurt am Main, with the bats where essentially I tell the other ship what we are going to do before we do it," Able Seaman Bozinoski said.
"It was a difficult RAS because of the environmental conditions, but the camaraderie of the crew was incredible so we were able to complete it safely.
"This RAS was a learning curve for me as even though I have been batsman before, today I did it without the supervision to confirm my signalling correctly."
Sydney is conducting a regional presence deployment enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies.
