The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is proving out the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capabilities of its aviation training vessel, MV Sycamore , during its deployment with Operation 'Bushfire Assist'.
The operation is the Australian Defence Force's (ADF's) contribution to the government's ongoing bushfire-related rescue-and-recovery operations across the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
The Damen-built civilian registered Sycamore is normally utilised by the RAN as a platform to train its personnel in helicopter-related operations including deck landings and take-offs, helicopter in-flight refuelling (HIFR), and air traffic control.
But the 94 m ship is also equipped for secondary tasks such as torpedo and mine recovery operations, navigation training, dive support, and target towing, and has a large storage capacity suitable for providing HADR assistance.
Sycamore has thus far helped to evacuate more than 1,400 civilians from Mallacoota, Victoria while working with the RAN's Bay-class amphibious landing ship HMAS Choules , according to information published by the RAN's Navy Daily on 24 January.
(Jane's)