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economic zone, and was involved in the search last year for the Norwegian yacht Berserk in Antarctic waters. As time and work schedules permitted at the Auckland Islands, many of the ship's crew took the opportunity to go ashore to visit places few people have access to. One group visited the tiny graveyard at Port Ross, virtually all that is left of the failed Hardwicke colony which lasted from just 1849 to 1852. It was hard not to be moved by the graves, one of which is for a girl aged just three months. Her headstone is made from the grinding wheel from the colony's mill, which saw little use as it was impossible to grow wheat there. Another grave is for the second mate of the wrecked ship Invercauld, John Mahony, who managed to get ashore but starved to death in 1864. DoC's programme manager for outlying islands, Pete McClelland, said Wellington was ideal for the trip. "The offshore patrol vessels are built for this sort of thing, they have space built in for extra personnel and cargo space on the back. They're able to be much more flexible than the frigates we used to use. Frankly, we couldn't do this work without the help of the Navy." When Hardwicke assistant commissioner William Mackworth left the island as the colony was abandoned in 1852, he wrote: "The satisfaction I feel at this moment is beyond description. My miserable life at Port Ross will never be forgotten." Many of those on board Wellington as she sailed away at the end of a successful mission would have felt rather differently. by David Balham RNZN OFFICERS JOIN RAN IN MIDDLE EAST Two RNZN personnel, Captain Lance Cook and Lieutenant Commander John McQueen, are currently serving in the Middle East with the Royal Australian Navy HQ contingent commanding Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150). The tastk force conducts maritime counter terrorism operations over a vast sea area of international waters encompassing the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. CTF150 is one of three task forces operating under the 25-nation naval partnership arrangement called Combined Maritime Forces which has its HQ in the US Naval Support Activity in Bahrain. The principal mission of CTF150 is to deter, disrupt and defeat attempts by international terrorist organisations to use the sea as a venue for an attack or as a means to transport personnel, weapons and other material. The CTF150 HQ plans and executes operations by ships and aircraft assigned to it by the CMF member nations. The leadership of CTF150 is rotated every four months between CMF member nations. Australia currently has the watch, having assumed command from the United Kingdom on December 15, 2011. The RAN CTF150 HQ contingent is 21-strong with two RNZN embedded officers to provide an ANZAC flavour. This is the third command rotation for Australia and the first with a combined RAN/RNZN staff. The work involves tasking ships and aircraft to patrol various geographical areas for security presence and deterrence, collecting information on local fishing and trading vessel activity, and responding to intelligence cueing of suspected maritime terrorist related activity such as narcotics smuggling. The number of ships assigned to CTF150 varies according to the ebb and flow of national contributions with ship patrol cycles being determined by national port visit programs. At all times the units are ready to respond to any piracy event in support of CTF151, the counter piracy mission, or to render humanitarian aid and assistance to vessels in distress. "One of our most notable successes has been the interdiction of a dhow in the North Arabian Sea carrying 240 kilos of Captain Cook and Lt Cmdr McQueen with the RAN learn onboard HMS Darling illegal narcotics with an estimated street value of US$5 million," said Captain Cook. "The RAN ANZAC class frigate HMAS Parramatta conducted the interception, boarding and search of the vessel which resulted in the discovery of the narcotics in bags of flour. The illicit cargo was disposed of at the scene. The result was the first successful narcotics interdiction by a CMF ship in two and half years and was due to the cooperation and planning efforts of many stakeholders." Another highlight was Focused Operation Scimitar ANZAC in the Southern Red Sea/Gulf of Aden region involving a task group of four ships under the tactical control of Captain Cook and his afloat command element. The purpose of this four-day maritime security operation was to ensure the safe unimpeded passage of merchant shipping through this key strategic waterway and to collect pattern of life information on local maritime activity. The task group consisted of HMS Daring (the new RN first of class Type 45 destroyer). The Pakistan Naval Ship Barbur (ex RN Type 21 frigate), HMAS Parramatta and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Knight, and was supported by USN P3 aircraft providing area surveillance. This is Yemen's front yard and their knowledge of the pattern of life is essential for CTF150 establishing the indicators of potential terrorist maritime activity in this key part of the area of operations. At the time of writing this article, the contingent has passed the two-thirds mark of the deployment. "We remain focused on employing the ships and aircraft under our command to best meet the counter terrorism aims of the CTF150 mission," said Captain Cook. "We are hopeful that our concerted efforts will result in another successful narcotics interdiction before we hand over command to Pakistan on April 19." TOTAL MARINE: • Wharves • Jetty and Marina Construction and Repair • Marine Towing • Pile Driving and Drilling • Salvage • Barge and Tug Hire TOTAL FLOATS: Design, Supply and Installation of all Floating Structures: Marinas – Commercial and Private Wharf Pontoons Phone 09 379 9752 • Fax 09 379 9751 www.totalmarineservices.co.nz May/June 2012 Professional Skipper 71 VIP.S71