For the first time Fiji is repre­sented in the 14th KAKADU Exercise at Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) waters in Australia on Friday.

The 25 Fijian naval officers are part of the 2000 participants representing 19 countries taking part in the two weeks event.

The countries taking part are hosts Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tonga, United States of America, and Vietnam.

Exercise KAKADU is a joint-en­abled, biennial exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy and sup­ported by the Royal Australian Air Force.

Exercise KAKADU is the navy’s premier maritime exercise, develop­ing interoperability between nations in the maritime and air domains, and providing training opportunities for maritime security and surveillance.

KAKADU Exercise initially start­ed in 1993.

KAKADU is the name of the icon­ic National Park in the Northern Territory of Australia, the state in which Exercise KAKADU will be conducted.

Meanwhile Republic of Fiji Navy Ship (RFNS) Kikau has arrived at Darwin alongside the 18 other par­ticipating nations.

Having completed a significant pe­riod in Cairns undergoing repairs the Kikau is back fighting fit and ready to get underway.

Meanwhile following the comple­tion of refurbishment works on RFNS Kikau the Fijian officers were embraced by the Royal Australian Navy at HMAS Cairns enjoying the attention of the Fijian community.

The Fijian navy officers played for the Cairns Brothers Rugby Union Club, winning the inter-ship volley­ball competition at HMAS Cairns and participating in the Cairns and Regional Multicultural Association 2018 festival.

– Australian High Commission