The Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel (RSIPV) AUKI left the country yesterday for its final resting place in Australia.
A brief farewell ceremony was held yesterday at the Mbokona Bay Patrol Boat base for the final time before midday.
RSIPV AUKI is leaving the country for good after serving the country for 30 successful years.
The RSIPV AUKI was farewelled with a sail past including the RSIPV GIZO, several RSIPF Maritime stabi-crafts, and the Australian navy vessel the HMAS Maitland in the Point Harbour area, it was reported.
On Thursday, a decommissioning service was held for the RSIPV AUKI. The AUKI is being returned to the Government of Australia.
By Wednesday it should reach Cairns in Queensland, Australia.
The crew after completing the 14 days quarantined will fly over to Perth, Western Australia to undergo training on the replacement Guardian Class RSIPV TARO.
The new patrol boat that is the same as the RSIPV GIZO, is expected to be delivered in May this year.
Looking back on the service provided by RSIPV AUKI since 1991, it had travelled thousands of nautical miles on operations both within Solomon Islands waters and abroad to assist other Pacific neighbours.
During her loyal service to the nation, the RSIPV AUKI also undertook numerous humanitarian operations and rescues, police support operations within the country and the Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea common border.
All of them were with successful outcomes and good results.
Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau during last week’s decommissioning ceremony said, “Since its commissioning the RSIPV AUKI travelled thousands of nautical miles on operations both within Solomon Islands waters and abroad to assist our Pacific neighbours.
“During her loyal service to the nation, the AUKI also undertook numerous humanitarian operations and rescues, police support operations within the country, and the Solomon Islands Papua New Guinea common border. All of them were with successful outcomes and good results.”
RSIPF AUKI has served the country well during good and bad times.
The country more so the police officers who have served inside the RSIPV AUKI are sad to see this patrol boat leave.
Thirty (30) years is a very long time and the country is honoured to be given the opportunity to take care of it to serve our waters.
Let’s join Commissioner Mangau in acknowledging the Australian Government for its ongoing support towards maritime police in this country.
“On behalf of the RSIPF and good people of Solomon Islands, I wish to sincerely thank the Australian Government for its support towards the Pacific Patrol Boat Program providing security in Solomon Islands and other Pacific island countries,” said Commissioner Mangau last week.
As the country bid goodbye to RSIPF AUKI, let’s also be grateful that a new Guardian Class patrol boat is arriving in the country in two months’ time.
The country already received a new Guardian Class RSIPV GIZO late last year and it’s serving the country.
With the increased threat from COVID at our borders, the arrival of the new Patrol boat will help to boost the police’s effort to protect the borders and the economic exclusive zone.
Goodbye RSIPV Auki and thank you for your service to this country.
