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.

“Geraldton will be fondly remembered by ship’s company, past and present, as well as by the Naval and Darwin communities. Similarly, this ship will also be missed by the people of Geraldton and the city for which the ship was named. Geraldton gave outstanding service over the years and her role will be continued with the introduction of the next generation Armidale Class Patrol Boats,” Commodore Griggs said.

Also attending the event were veterans from the first Royal Australian Navy ship to bear the name Geraldton, a Bathurst Class Corvette which saw active service in World War II.