PNGDF gets new vessel to boost security

The National National
Papua New Guinea Defence Force vessel Nuship Rochus Lokinap at the Gordon Naval Base in Western Australia during the handover ceremony yesterday. – Picture supplied

THE Papua New Guinea Defence Force took command of a military vessel yesterday from the Australian defence force as part of a wider regional development and aid programme to improve maritime security.
The Nuship Rochus Lokinap, a guardian class patrol boat, was handed over by the Royal Australian Navy in Perth and departed yesterday for Darwin for inspection and maintenance and is due to arrive in Port Moresby on April 14.
PNG Defence attache to Canberra Col Mark Goina, standing in for PNG High Commissioner John Kali, thanked the Australian government for its support towards the PNGDF under the Defence cooperation programme (DCP).
He said the PNG and Australian governments had agreed on a long term comprehensive strategic and economic partnership (CSEP) to elevate bilateral relations across key pillars: strong democracies for a stable future; close friendship and enduring ties; economic partnership for prosperity; strategic cooperation for security and stability; social and human development; and, near neighbours and global partners.
Col Goina said the PNG–Australia defence relationship was a strong and enduring security partnership, founded on geographical, historical, and cultural ties and values with a history of military cooperation, recognising that regional peace and security was enhanced by the inter-operability of “our defence forces”.