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LCDR LEYDON WITH ENGINEERING MEMBERS OF VOLGA’S STEAMING & BOARDING PARTY in front of the vessel, opened its door and shotguns were pointed at the bridge. After this action the vessel decided to slow down. The first stick of blue boarding party were then inserted onto the FFV via fast rope in arduous conditions. After storming the bridge from both port and starboard sides, and receiving refusal from the master to turn the vessel around, the boarding officer ordered his bridge security to force a heading towards the CANBERRA by taking over the helm. After the Boarding Officer introduced himself to the master, the crew was ordered to muster on the forecastle. This commenced after some initial difficulty due to language differences, while the sweep parties proceeded to search through the Volga. CANBERRA’s helo stayed within close proximity of the Volga providing protection until the CANBERRA appeared over the horizon. With CANBERRA now only a few miles away from the Volga, and with ‘Low Threat’ 1 imminent, the boarding officer returned the helo to pickup the second stick of 5 personnel. Along with the second stick there was also an <strong>Australian</strong> Fisheries Officer (to work with the boarding officer to decide if an apprehension would be required) and one of the ships PWO’s (who filled a navigation requirement in case CANBERRA was diverted before the steaming party was inserted). Apprehension After the crew was moved to the ships café Low Threat was passed to CANBERRA and the Fisheries Officer conducted a search of the vessel. After discussion between the fishery and Boarding Officer, and following large amounts of Patagonian Toothfish that had been found aboard, it was agreed that the vessel had indeed been utilised as a fishing vessel. A recommendation was then made by the boarding officer to the CO of CANBERRA for an apprehension to take place. After an approval from CANBERRA’s Commanding Officer, apprehension was then carried out to the Master of the Volga, with evidence gathered for future purposes. By now steaming party members had NAVY ENGINEERING BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2003 been winched aboard Volga after arrival via CANBERRA and WESTRALIA’s RHIBs. An assessment was carried out to determine whether the Volga was sea-worthy enough for a steaming party to safety transit the vessel to Fremantle. The assessment included such things as the general condition of the ship, life rafts, EPIRBs, navigation ABOVE: CANBERRA’S BOARDING OFFICERS LCDR LEYDON & LEUT LOWE WITH CAPTURED MV’S VOLGA AND LENA IN THE BACKGROUND 35
36 NAVY ENGINEERING BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2003 equipment etc. The Boarding and Steaming Party officers completed their assessment and decided Volga was of a suitable standard for an RAN team to transit the vessel back to Fremantle. Return to Fremantle CANBERRA’s other boarding party (GOLD) had also successfully carried out a Non Compliant Boarding (NCB) 2 on another FFV, the Lena. Now both vessels were boarded and handed over to their respective steaming parties. CANBERRA circled Heard Island to check for any remaining vessels, leaving both MMV’s sitting in a holding area awaiting her return to transit them back to Fremantle. The long journey home began and the steaming parties did an excellent job in keeping a potential hostile crew in line, which knew fully well that the end result of the trip was arrest and possible deportation. Court Appeal It should be noted at the time of this article being written, Volga’s owners are disputing the apprehension of their vessel and are going to court in October. Volga’s owners are claiming that they were never in the EEZ, but only fishing around the border. The ADF and the Fisheries Department, with the help of CANBERRA’s crew, will put their case forward to show otherwise highlighting the value of accurate and comprehensive recording and evidence gathering when involved in such activities. Conclusion Over the period 29 Jan – 19 Feb HMA Ships CANBERRA and WESTRALIA sailed at short notice to the Southern Ocean for Operation Sutton. This was significant for a number of reasons: 1. CANBERRA was due to commence a two year ERN (refit) as lead ship for the FFGUP only three months beforehand with no idea about the change in FAS that was about to happen post September 11, 2001, 2. The RAN had never conducted boarding operations in the Southern Ocean beforehand using organic capability, 3. Both boarding parties had been created from scratch only 2 months beforehand, with all training geared toward Persian Gulf operations, and 4. The arduous and hostile environment of large scale poaching in the Southern Ocean, combined with the limited windows during which boardings could be conducted between inclement weather fronts. Operation Sutton was a resounding success for the RAN and the <strong>Australian</strong> Fisheries Department. It would appear that HMAS CANBERRA has set the standard for the RAN to carry out Southern Ocean operations while no longer requiring dependence on external agencies. 1 Low Threat is passed once a vessels bridge and engine room are under Boarding Party control and the crew and weapons have been mustered, accounted for and the crew under surveillance in a confinable area. Once Low Threat has been passed the vessel is considered secure and safe for steaming parties to board. 2 Non Compliant Boarding (NCB) – when a Boarding Party insert without consent from the vessel after they have been queried. A FISHERY OFFICER SPEAKS WITH LCDR LEYDON AND BRIDGE SECURITY WHILE VOLGAS FISHING MASTER LOOKS ON DEJECTEDLY A MEMBER OF BLUE BOARDING PARTY FASTROPES ONTO THE VOLGA ABOUT THE AUTHOR LCDR Sean Leydon joined in Jun 84 as an Apprentice at HMAS NIRIMBA and served on several FFG’s before completing an Engineering Degree at RMIT. He has been instructing FFG Combat Systems at CDSC since Sept 02 after serving 18 months as DWEEO aboard HMAS CANBERRA. Previous postings include the GPS Project Office and Aide- De-Camp for the Assistant Defence Minister. LCDR Sean Leydon was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service for duties and leadership as a Boarding Officer during Operations Sutton and Slipper.
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