Australia’s Pacific Response Group (PRG) used last week’s visit of ADV Reliant to Suva to test its readiness for the coming cyclone season, running a certification exercise aboard the vessel at the King’s Wharf.
The PRG is a regional asset activated when Pacific countries request support for civilian-led humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Its commander, Lieutenant Colonel Scott Hill, met with local media during the visit and explained the purpose of the exercise before taking journalists on a tour of the ship.
Information on the Royal Australian Navy website shows ADV Reliant is a Norwegian-built offshore support vessel launched in 2017.
It sailed into Sydney in July 2022 for trials before being accepted into service as a naval auxiliary the following month, operating out of Brisbane.
The ship has become a regular presence in the region.
Its last Fiji deployment was in May, when it delivered relief supplies under Australia’s Disaster Resilience Program and later assisted in the rescue of the sailing yacht Lucky Jonny, which had lost its rudder southeast of Suva.
That rescue involved coordination between Fiji and New Zealand rescue centres and the Royal Australian Navy.
