CAMP GENERAL ARTEMIO RICARTE, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — Western Command’s naval component, the Naval Forces West, and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will hold a Maritime Security Activity (MSA) on 16-25 July 2018 in Palawan.
The bilateral activity aims to enhance training, interoperability and cooperation between the Philippine Navy (PN) and RAN in addressing terrorism and kidnapping activities within Palawan water lanes that are of common interest to the two countries.
The RAN vessels will arrive on 16 July 2018, 9AM at the Puerto Princesa City Pier. A simple welcome ceremony will be conducted followed by a ship tour on RAN’s participating ships, namely HMAS Larrakin and HMAS Wollongong.
For the Philippine Navy, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF 16) and BRP Simeon Castro (PC 374)will participate in the training activities aboard ship.
The activity will formally kick off in an Opening Ceremony to be held on 16 July 2018, 10AM at the Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon Covered Court with Captain Carlos V Sabarre PN (GSC), Deputy Commander of Naval Forces West, as Guest of Honor and Speaker.
This year’s PN-RAN MSA will hold interoperability exercises on Naval Communication System, planning, individual shipboard training, maritime surveillance, and search and rescue.
The PN-RAN MSA 2018 is the 4th iteration of the said bilateral activity.
The welcome ceremony and ship tour at the PPC Pier will be open for press coverage. (Western Command)