HMAS Sydney has completed 100 days at sea since leaving Fleet Base East for a regional presence deployment, and it has been a busy time for the 20 people in the boatswain department.
Between boating operations and light line transfers, the boatswains of Sydney have conducted multiple replenishments at sea (RAS) with United States Navy ships John Lewis and Wally Shirra and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships Mashu and Tokiwa.
This allowed a number of team members to complete the first RAS of their career.
One of those was boatswain's mate Seaman Samuel Bein, who said the RAS with John Lewis was a significant learning experience during his first posting to a ship.
"I was the gunner at the point which required me to fire a line throwing projectile to start the evolutions," Seaman Bein said.
"I felt a lot of pressure to get it right the first time with everyone watching, but while my first shot didn't make it across, we conducted a reload and I was successful the second time.
"Watching two ships operate in such close proximity and in real time - not just in the seamanship hall at HMAS Cerberus - was incredible.
"During our next RAS with JS Mashu, I was part of the dump party for the entire evolution, and I was able to put everything I had learnt into practice."
'The training leading up to the special occasion paid off and everything came together well.'
But it was not all work, with many ports visited along the way, including Busan, Sasebo, Singapore, Subic Bay and Yokosuka.
Boatswain's mate Seaman Stacey Conway enjoyed her time in Japan.
"I loved experiencing rush hour at Shibuya Crossing and I even got to feed otters at a café, so I can officially tick it off my bucket list," Seaman Conway said.
Ship's company conducted two ceremonial guards for cocktail parties while alongside in Japan and Korea. The execution of these guards was a result of the collective efforts of all involved, but in particular the boatswain department, which took the lead during the training.
Sydney commemorated Anzac Day on board with a dawn service and a later service, attended by members of USS Omaha. For some, it was their first Anzac Day commemorated at sea.
Boatswain's mate Able Seaman Sarah Newham was one of the key participants in the Anzac Day catafalque party - her second ceremony at sea.
"Despite the nerves, it was a great experience, and I was proud to carry on the important tradition while we were on deployment," Able Seaman Newham said.
"The training leading up to the special occasion paid off and everything came together well."
As the deployment goes on and the ship makes the homeward journey to Australia to join Exercise Talisman Sabre, the boatswain department continues to train, practise and conduct multiple ship evolutions.
