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A international naval review and the next Pacific International Maritime Exposition will be held in Sydney in October 2013, to coincide with the centenary of the arrival of the first Royal Australian Navy fleet into Sydney in 1913.
“In October of 2011, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Griggs sent letters of invitation to over 50 international counterparts to participate in an International Fleet Review to be held in Sydney from the 4th to 11th of October 2013,” Captain Nick Bramwell, Director of the RAN’s International Fleet Review, told the Seapower Conference in Sydney on Thursday.
“This review is being held to commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian fleet into Sydney, which occurred on the 4th of October, 1913.”
The event will be reminiscent of the RAN’s 75th anniversary in 1986, and the Bicentennial Naval Salute in 1988, but will also include a significant tallship component.
The intent, Bramwell said, was for as many warships as possible to rendezvous off the NSW South Coast before making a final push into Sydney, arriving on Friday, October 4 2013, exactly 100 years to the day after the first entry.
On leaving the Harbour on October 11, the international vessels will be invited to participate in a combined naval exercise, tentatively titled Exercise Triton Centenary.
The next Pacific International Maritime Exposition will also be moved up October 2013 to coincide with the Fleet Review, running from October 7 to 10 next year, before the event returns to its normal biennial schedule in the first quarter of 2016.
“We are delighted to have been invited by Navy to participate in this once in 100 year opportunity,” said Maritime Australia CEO Ian Honnery. “We have moved the Pacific Exposition schedule forward to join with Navy in this special occasion.”
“Our exhibitors will have a unique opportunity to showcase their businesses to visiting naval leaders and delegations from around the world.”
