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The Royal Australian Navy’s guided missile frigate HMAS Melbourne has visited the Tasmanian port city of Devonport for one of the warship’s last port visits before she is decommissioned later in 2019.
The frigate and its 180-strong company pulled alongside Devonport Ferry Terminal on the Mersey River last week for a three-day visit.
Melbourne is the last of the RAN's six Adelaide Class frigates, and was commissioned in 1992, sailing more than 780,000 nautical miles through her service life.
Commanding Officer, Commander Marcus Buttler, said the visit was bittersweet as it saw Melbourne coming one port closer to the end of her decommissioning voyage.
“We have appreciated the opportunity to pause in Devonport and share this great ship, and her achievements, with the local community,” CMDR Buttler said.
“Melbourne and her crew have been working hard, deploying overseas for most of 2018 and 2019."
Melbourne deployed on operations to the Middle East eight times and earned battle honours for service in East Timor, the Persian Gulf and Middle East.
She recently completed a four-month deployment through north Asia, including conducting international maritime surveillance operations to enforce sanctions against North Korea.
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