The Australian High Commission and Samoa Police Service top brass welcomed the Australian Support Vessel, ADV Reliant to Samoa recently as part of its inaugural deployment to the Pacific and Timor-Leste.  

Police Commissioner Auapaau Logoitino Filipo and his executive team at the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services did a tour of the vessel last Friday with the crew highlighting its wide-ranging capabilities.

The ADV Reliant will have a sustained presence in the Pacific to meet the needs of Samoa and the Pacific family, including the ability to respond quickly in times of crisis.  

ADV Reliant is an auxiliary ship operated for the Royal Australian Navy (R.A.N.) by Teekay Shipping Australia. The ship was purchased in February 2022 to serve as the Pacific support vessel for the R.A.N.

Reliant has supported R.A.N. activities in Fiji and patrolled the exclusive economic zones of the Cook Islands and Samoa.

As of August 2022, Reliant formed part of the R.A.N. National Support Squadron. Like the other ships in the squadron, she is crewed by civilian mariners employed by Teekay Shipping Australia and a single RAN naval liaison officer.

In September 2022, the crew comprised 18 Teekay employees and a R.A.N. officer. Other personnel will be embarked when needed for specific tasks.

Reliant is based in Brisbane and is scheduled to operate in the Pacific for 250 to 300 days annually. The Australian Defence Force will control the ship, with tasks being determined in consultation with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.