HMAS Hobarthas made the first naval visit in a decade to the Port of Bunbury as part of a three-week anti-submarine warfare exercise.

There are six ships involved in the exercise, including four frigates and a landing craft as well as four helicopters, one of which is stationed permanently on HMAS Hobart along with an Australian Air Force and a New Zealand Air Force maritime patrol aircraft.

The 220 Hobart crew were in Bunbury for respite and to engage with the local community. In total, there are about 1300 participants involved in the exercise.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Hobart, Ali Withers, said the port visit was an opportunity to integrate with the local community.

“We also have Defence Force recruiting and the local cadets on board tomorrow for a look around. It’s just a really great opportunity for us to see something different and to engage with communities that we wouldn’t normally see,” Commander Withers said.

 Southern Ports CEO Keith Wilks said they had been pleased to help facilitate the visit.

“The visit further adds to the growing diversity of vessels and trade we’re seeing across our ports, particularly here at the Port of Bunbury. Last year, we welcomed more than 800 vessels from bulk carriers and cruise liners to survey and speciality vessels.”

Commander Withers said the Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEC), is an annual exercise for the Australian Navy in conjunction with the Australian Air Force and New Zealand Air Force to conduct anti-submarine warfare training.

She said the exercise was designed to develop a wide range of skills.

“We don’t just do anti-submarine warfare training, we do training across all spheres of warfare, including air warfare and surface warfare as well, as a way to integrate our forces and hone our skills.

“This is the biggest exercise that has been taking place on the Australian station in about the last 10 years.

“The Hobart is an air warfare destroyer so our main purpose is to conduct anti-air warfare; however we’re also equipped to conduct surface and anti-submarine warfare as well.

“We’re here with HMAS Warramunga. She’s an ANZAC class frigate that we’ve been operating with for the last few weeks.”