The Australian Border Force (ABF) through Maritime Border Command (MBC) has strengthened its capability to protect Australia’s maritime borders through a series of at-sea exercises with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in northern Australian waters.
Prior to arriving in Darwin, USCG Cutter Bertholf conducted maritime law enforcement and interoperability activities with ABF Fast Response Boat Kulu Kulu and HMAS Cape Spencer in the Torres Strait.
The activities allowed the ABF and USCG personnel to practise operating together, share information and strengthen coordination when detecting and responding to maritime threats.
The engagement also included personnel exchanges, with Senior Border Force Officer Bill McDonald embarking aboard USCGC Bertholf during its transit to Darwin.
The exchange provided the ABF officer with first-hand exposure to USCG maritime law-enforcement procedures and an opportunity to share his Australian expertise.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Commander Maritime Border Command, Natasha O’Farrell
“Protecting Australia’s vast maritime domain requires strong operational relationships with our neighbours and trusted international partners.
“Exercises like this strengthen our collective ability to detect, deter and respond to maritime security threats, while ensuring our personnel can work seamlessly alongside trusted international partners.
“Getting our people on each other’s decks and working through boarding procedures side-by-side is where ethe real value of these exchanges lies. It’s this kind of hands-on experience that builds trust and makes a genuine difference when our agencies need to operate together.
“Our crew came away from the Torres Strait activities with a sharper sense of how closely our two forces can operate when it counts. That’s the kind of outcomes that makes a deployment like this worthwhile.”
Quotes attributable to Commanding Officer USCGC Bertholf, Captain Andrew Pate
“Building on more than a century of standing shoulder-to-shoulder, our recent at-sea engagements with the Australian Border Force and Maritime Border Command in the Torres Strait demonstrate the enduring strength of our security partnership.
“Working directly alongside our Australian counterparts reinforces that regional maritime security is built on hands-on interoperability, mutual trust, and routine coordination.”
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