The navy vessel donated by the Australian government has arrived in the Maldives.
After departing from Perth, Australia, and arriving at the Hulhumale' harbour, the vessel was officially welcomed by the Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, and the Australian High Commissioner to the Maldives, His Excellency David Jessup. This marks the longest sea voyage in the history of the Maldivian military.
The vessel entered the Hulhumale' harbour with a ceremonial escort from the MNDF Coast Guard, in accordance with maritime traditions. A water salute was also presented upon its entry into the Hulhumale' harbour. After the vessel docked at the Coast Guard ship area in Hulhumale', Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy and Australian High Commissioner to the Maldives, His Excellency David Jessup, welcomed the crew and toured the vessel.
This vessel was acquired through the efforts of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in collaboration with the Australian government, under his policy to strengthen the Maldivian military's defence capabilities and safeguard the independence and sovereignty of the Maldives. Doubling the operational capacity of the Coast Guard and transforming the MNDF into a force capable of fully monitoring the Maldivian maritime territory is a key pledge of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Donated under Australia's Defence Cooperation Program as a symbol of the strong and robust relationship between Australia and the Maldives, this vessel is a brand-new ship built by Austal Limited at the Henderson Shipyard in Perth, Australia.
Prior to the vessel's arrival in the Maldives, MNDF Coast Guard crew members completed special training and familiarisation trials in Australia on how to operate the vessel.
