The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) RSS Resolution participated in the International Naval Review (INR) held earlier today in Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand, at the invitation of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). RSS Resolution joined more than 14 ships from 10 other countries in the INR to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the RNZN.
New Zealand Governor-General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy reviewed the INR which comprised ships from Chile, China, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa, Singapore, South Korea and Tonga. As part of the commemoration event, RSS Resolution will also be open to the public for visits on 20 November 2016.
Prior to the INR, RSS Resolution participated in Exercise Lion Zeal, a bilateral exercise with the RNZN, from 13 to 14 November 2016 at the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland. The exercise, held in conjunction with the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security Exercise, involved manoeuvring drills and personnel exchanges in areas such as navigation, seamanship, as well as fire-fighting and damage control, enhancing mutual understanding between the RSN and RNZN.
Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han, who is in New Zealand for an official visit from 18 to 20 November 2016, was present at the INR. During his visit, RADM Lai called on New Zealand Chief of Navy RADM John Martin to express the Singapore Armed Forces' condolences and continued offer of assistance for New Zealand's earthquake relief efforts. Both navy chiefs also discussed bilateral defence relations.
The RSN and RNZN interact regularly through professional exchanges, visits, cross-attendance of professional courses and multilateral exercises under the ambit of the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the Western Pacific Naval Symposium. Such interactions have strengthened mutual trust and interoperability between the two navies, underscoring the close defence relations between Singapore and New Zealand.
