It's a lot easier to drop in to see friends at work when their head office is a 193-metre-long command centre at sea.
After a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) with the Philippines and United States within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, the Commanding Officer of HMAS Toowoomba conducted a cross‑deck visit to USS Blue Ridge, the home of the United States Navy 7th Fleet Command.
Commissioned in 1970, Blue Ridge is the oldest serving ship in the United States Navy.
But despite its 56 years at sea, the forward-deployed amphibious command ship has the latest upgrades to serve as the command, control, communications, computers, cyber and intelligence (C5I) support function for the entire 7th Fleet, which operates all the way from India to east of Japan.
Commanding Officer Blue Ridge Captain Louis F. Catalina IV said when the nations sailed together, they strengthened partnerships and enhanced combined readiness to ensure peace and stability in the region.
"Sailing alongside the Royal Australian Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard in the South China Sea is a powerful demonstration of our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Captain Catalina said.
Commanding Officer Toowoomba Commander Alicia Harrison met with United States Navy 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Patrick J. Hannifin and Philippine Navy Western Naval Command Commander Rear Admiral Vincent J. Sibala, and said Australia's participation reinforced its commitment to regional cooperation and a stable Indo-Pacific.
"For more than 100 years there has been an enduring friendship and partnership between the Royal Australian Navy and United States Navy," Commander Harrison said.
"I am thrilled this legacy is growing to include the Philippine Navy as one of our most important regional partners."
Toowoomba spent several days sailing in company with United States and Philippine Navy vessels, including Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland.
Commanding Officer Ashland Commander Adam Peeples said MCAs were vital to the safety and security of the Indo-Pacific.
"It reaffirms the connection and commitment of the United States to regional partners like Australia, which is one of our oldest historical partnerships," Commander Peeples said.
"So being out here, operating forward deployed demonstrates we have 'skin in the game' in the Indo-Pacific region."
The MCA also demonstrates how Australia is upholding international law during freedom of navigation and overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
