HMAS Jervis Bay became a familiar sight within Dili Harbour during INTERFET.
The first of Jervis Bay’s support tasks began with the evacuation of refugees from Dili during Operation SPITFIRE. This was followed by the insertion and sustainment of INTERFET elements in Operations WARDEN and STABILISE.
Jervis Bay soon fell into a regular pattern of ferrying vital stores, equipment and personnel between Australia and East Timor, completing 8 return trips in October, 12 in November and 11 in December. Each round trip took 3 days with a 10.5 to 12 hour transit time each way. During December 1999 the routine was punctuated prior to Christmas when Jervis Bay hosted orphans from Laga on board during a day visit to Dili. Christmas also saw Jervis Bay deliver large amounts of mail and care packages for distribution to INTERFET personnel.
With the advent of the new millennium, the then well-established Darwin-Dili run resumed on 6 January 2000 with the ship completing 10 trips before the end of the month. The busy schedule continued into February when 8 voyages were undertaken in the lead-up to INTERFET transitioning to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) which took place on Wednesday 23 February 2000. The conclusion of the INTERFET operations saw Jervis Bay embark the outgoing INTERFET Commander Major General Peter Cosgrove AM MC and his headquarters staff for the return trip to Darwin. On departure from Dili Harbour Jervis Bay acted as the review ship for the general of assembled multinational naval and air forces.
Under the auspices of Operation TANAGER the new UNTAET mandate was to change the operational tempo and support requirements. As such, only 5 return trips were conducted by Jervis Bay in March, 6 in April and 3 in May.
On 20 May Jervis Bay’s ship’s company participated as one of the lead units in an INTERFET welcome home parade hosted by the City of Darwin. On 24 May the ship left Darwin on a 12-day passage to Sydney calling at Weipa (fuel only), Townsville, Mackay and Bundaberg en route. On 6 June Jervis Bay commenced a 16-day docking period in the Forgacs’ floating dock at Newcastle followed by 6 days maintenance alongside before proceeding to Sydney on completion.
In the first part of July various trials were conducted in the East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA) before Jervis Bay returned to Darwin calling at Brisbane, Cairns and Weipa (fuel only) during the passage north. On arrival in Darwin the ship resumed the Dili run completing 3 return trips that month. In August 5 trips to Dili were undertaken before participating in a trial in the Northern Australia Exercise Area (NAXA) during Fleet Concentration Period 2/2000.
During that time the tactical benefits of a fast multi-hulled vessel underwent further assessment. With the diminished frequency of runs, command of both Jervis Bay’s Port and Starboard crews was assumed by Lieutenant Commander Dudley on Friday 11 August 2000. Only 3 return trips were achieved in September as well as trials with a visiting US Navy Amphibious Ready Group to Darwin. For the remainder of the year 7 trips were completed in October, 4 in November and 3 in December. Ongoing Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) trials were also conducted during the latter 2 months.
Jervis Bay was underway again in early January 2001 completing 4 return trips to Dili and another 4 in February. Five trips were achieved in March before a decision was made to not renew the charter or exercise the purchase option for the vessel. Four return trips to Dili followed in April with Jervis Bay berthing alongside Darwin for the last time on Anzac Day 2001.
In the brief period spent alongside, items not fitted as part of the original charter were removed and on 27 April 2001 Jervis Bay departed Darwin for Hobart arriving there on 9 May. During the transit south a refuelling stop in Weipa and port visits to Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney were made. Following a final hull survey, Jervis Bay formally decommissioned on 11 May 2001 at approximately 11 am alongside Macquarie No 3 berth and the vessel was returned to the InCat owners.
During the bare-boat charter period Jervis Bay, in support of INTERFET and UNTAET, completed 107 return trips between Darwin and Dili ferrying 21 040 personnel, 1717 internally displaced persons, 430 vehicles and 5482 tonnes of logistic stores. It had also undergone various trials and assessment to determine whether the fast catamaran sea lift concept suited Navy and ADF operational concepts. While Jervis Bay did have mechanical and general defects occur during service, the InCat support contract managed to minimise or negate any impact on operations. For its support to INTERFET operations, Jervis Bay personnel were recognised with the award of a Deployable Joint Force Headquarters Unit Commendation.