In late 2011, the Chief of Navy (CN) - Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, AO, CSC, RAN
extended an invitation to over 50 nations to send a warship and/or tall
ship to participate in an International Fleet Review (IFR) to be held
in Sydney from 3 - 11 October 2013. The Review is being held to
commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian
Navy's Fleet into Sydney.
On 4 October 1913 the flagship, HMAS
Australia, led the new Australian Fleet Unit comprising HMA Ships
Melbourne, Sydney, Encounter, Warrego, Parramatta and
Yarra
into Sydney Harbour for the first time to be greeted by thousands of
cheering citizens lining the foreshore. This was a moment of great
national pride and importance, one recognised as a key indicator of
Australia's progress towards national maturity.
The IFR is a high profile international event and Navy's signature
commemorative event for 2013. Planned in partnership with the NSW State
Government and the City of Sydney, it is anticipated that approximately
40 warships and 20 tall ships will participate in this historic event.
The RAN Sea Power Conference 2013 and Pacific 2013 International
Maritime Congress and Exposition, are also scheduled to take place at
Darling Harbour from 7 October 2013 to coincide with the IFR.
The current plan will see RAN and visiting warships rendezvousing in
Jervis Bay, NSW on 1 October 2013 to conduct final preparations and
briefings. The formal aspects of the IFR will commence with all tall
ships entering Sydney Harbour on Thursday 3 October 2013 and all
warships entering on Friday 4 October 2013 - exactly 100 years after the
first RAN Fleet entry.
To mark this historic occasion, the Governor General of
the Commonwealth of Australia, her Excellency, the Hon Ms Quentin Bryce,
AC, CVO will welcome the Fleet from Bradley’s Head on 4 October, and
officially review the fleet onboard
HMAS Leeuwin
on Saturday, 5 October, as part of the Ceremonial Fleet Review. The
Review will include a moving line of seven RAN ships to further
symbolise the 1913 entry.
The day's events are also likely to feature
formation fly-pasts by fixed and rotary wing aircraft, naval displays
and demonstrations, naval gun salutes and naval band performances, and
will culminate in a spectacular evening pyrotechnics and light show on
the harbour.
Other activities being planned to occur during the week long
celebrations, include a combined naval march through the Sydney CBD,
ships open to the public, inter-navy sporting competitions, naval
memorial and religious services, and a range of community and cultural
events.
The tall ships will depart on Thursday 10 October 2013 followed by
the fleet departing on Friday 11 October 2013 to participate in Exercise
TRITON CENTENARY in the East Australian Exercise Areas (EAXA).
The IFR is planned to be similar in scale and public impact to that
experienced during the RAN 75th Anniversary in 1986 and the Bicentennial
Naval Salute in 1988.
The full program of IFR planned events can be found on our
Events page.
