Australia, Singaporean Warships To Take Part In Sail Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat, West Papua, Aug 22 (Antara) - An Australian and Singaporean warship will be among the dozens of Indonesian warships to take part in the parade of "Sail Raja Ampat 2014" in West Papua on August 23. The spokesman of the Indonesian Navy Rear Admiral Manahan Simorangkir noted in an official statement received by Antara here on Friday that HMAS PIRIE-87 and RSS ENDEAVOUR 210 were the two foreign warships that will take part in the event. HMAS PIRIE-87 is an Armidale-class patrol boat (ACPB) manufactured by the Australian company, Austal Ships. It is 56.8 meters long and weighs 300 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots and has been assigned to carry out offshore patrols of the eastern Australian waters. The RSS ENDEAVOUR 210, meanwhile, is a landing platform dock ship and is a multipurpose support vessel belonging to the 191 Squadron of the Royal Singapore Navy. The ship is 141 meters in length and 21 meters in width. It carries a crew of 65 officers and sailors. It is able to carry several tanks, light landing vessels, heavy vehicles, and helicopters. It belongs to the Endurance class of ships that were inducted into the RSN to replace the old County class tank landing ships. The event, which is similar to the ones held before such as Sail Bunaken 2009, Sail Banda 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitong 2011, Sail Morotai 2012, and Sail Komodo 2013, is scheduled to be inaugurated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.