Australian warship to end five-day Subic visit with joint sea drill

His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Choules is docked at Rivera Wharf in Subic Bay during its five-day port visit from July 6 to 10. The visit concludes on Friday with a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Philippine Navy as part of efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Australia (Photo courtesy of Philippine Navy Fleet Public Affairs Office)

SUBIC, Zambales — His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Choules will conclude its five-day port visit to Subic Bay on Friday (July 10) with a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Philippine Navy, highlighting continued maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Australia.

The Australian naval vessel arrived at Rivera Wharf on July 6, where it was welcomed by a Philippine Navy contingent led by Commander Mervyn N. Nesperos, director of the Offshore Combat Force Training Center.

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On the same day, HMAS Choules commanding officer Commander Paul Alexander Hardman of the Royal Australian Navy paid a courtesy call on Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe at the Philippine Fleet headquarters.

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His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Choules is docked at Rivera Wharf in Subic Bay during its five-day port visit from July 6 to 10. (Photos courtesy of Philippine Navy Fleet Public Affairs Office)

According to the Philippine Navy, the meeting focused on ongoing and future areas of cooperation between the two navies, including participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, typhoon preparedness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations.

As part of the port call, the Royal Australian Navy hosted a dinner reception aboard HMAS Choules, attended by Deputy Philippine Fleet commander Commodore Lorenzo H. Bolor Jr. and selected Philippine Fleet personnel.

READ: Australian warship docks in Subic for port visit

The visit will conclude with a formal send-off ceremony at Rivera Wharf before the two navies conduct the PASSEX at sea, an exercise designed to enhance interoperability and operational coordination.

Australia is among the Philippines’ key defense partners, with the two countries regularly holding bilateral and multilateral military engagements aimed at improving maritime security, disaster response capabilities and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific. /jpv

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