HMAS Geraldton to decommission in traditional navy ceremony in Darwin

In a centuries old tradition, the Royal Australian Navy’s Fremantle Class Patrol Boat (FCPB), HMAS Geraldton lowered her Australian White Ensign for the last time as the ship was decommissioned in a traditional ceremony in her homeport of Darwin. Geraldton has contributed 23 years of valuable service to the Navy.

Geraldton is the eleventh FCPB to be decommissioned with the introduction of the Navy’s 14 state-of-the-art Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPB). The first ACPB, HMAS Armidale, was commissioned in June 2005.

Mr David Tollner MP, the Federal Member for Solomon, representing the Minister for Defence was joined by the Deputy Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Russ Crane AO, CSC, RAN and the Deputy Maritime Commander Australia, Commodore Ray Griggs, CSC, RAN at the Ceremony. At the decommissioning ceremony the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Aaron Nye, RAN, was the last to depart his ship as he marched ashore and formally presented his Australian White Ensign to Commodore Griggs.

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