The Australian Border Force (ABF) will farewell the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaurya from Darwin today after a successful four-day visit which saw an unprecedented level of collaboration between the two maritime security agencies.
Since the Shaurya's arrival on Tuesday her compliment of 110 officers and crew have been engaged in a wide range of exercises, activities and information sharing with ABF officers from Maritime Border Command (MBC) and Northern Command.
As well as a number of tactical exercises, Shaurya crew members were also given tours of the ABF airborne surveillance assets at Cobham Aviation and the Cape Class patrol boat Cape St George.
Commander MBC, Rear Admiral Lee Goddard, CSC RAN, described the visit as a significant success which had laid the foundation for much stronger operational engagement between the two agencies in the future.
"The level of positive engagement between ABF and ICG officers this week has exceeded expectations on many levels," RADM Goddard said.
"From a tactical and operational level these relationship building exercises will assist both agencies in their common goal of providing safety and security across our maritime domain."
Away from the serious business of maritime security and safety, strong personal relationships were also forged between ABF and ICG officers, highlighted by an Aussie style barbeque and cricket match yesterday afternoon.
The ICGS Shaurya and her crew will be farewelled at 09:00 this morning and will depart Darwin Harbour at 10:00.
