Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Jimson Tanangada has led a ministerial delegation for a brief a tour onboard the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant.
Australian High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Rod Hilton also welcome aboard Minister Tanangada, as well as Hon Choylin Douglas, Minister of Culture and Tourism; and Hon Polycarp Paea, Minister of Lands, Housing and Survey.
The new CEO of Solomon Ports, Mr George Rausi as well as his predecessor, Mr Eranda Kotelawala also joined the tour.
The ADV Reliant is Australia’s Pacific support vessel – the ship and its crew visit and support Pacific Island countries, providing support such as search and rescue, maritime surveillance, transport of essential cargo, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The ADV Reliant was berthed in Honiara as part of its first visit into the Pacific for 2025 to deliver stores and equipment, and assist with maritime surveillance during the high-risk wet weather season.
High Commissioner Hilton said the tour was an opportunity to demonstrate an important humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) asset available to support Solomon Islands.
“Australia is Solomon Islands’ longstanding humanitarian and disaster resilience partner”, High Commissioner Hilton said.
“The ADV Reliant’s program is 100 percent focused on supporting Pacific priorities, including responding to disasters when needed.”
Australia is proud to be Solomon Islands’s nambawan humanitarian response partner, and is committed to providing disaster relief as well as building Solomon Islands’ onshore disaster response capabilities.
During the recent visit by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Richard Marles MP, Australia committed to partner with Solomon Islands to establish a new warehousing precinct in Honiara.
-AHC
