Biofuels on Agenda during US Navy Visit
by Scott Rutherford (Navy Daily) Alternative fuels and energy efficient systems were on everybody’s lips when American ship USS Stethem, arrived alongside Fleet Base East, Sydney, this month.
Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, welcomed the ship’s company and United States Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy for Management, Thomas Hicks, at an event onboard the destroyer.
Rear Admiral Mayer said since Australia signed a statement of cooperation agreement with the US Navy in 2012, the Royal Australian Navy had progressed from testing one Seahawk helicopter on biofuels during Exercise RIMPAC in 2012, to three warships in 2016.
“HMA Ships Ballarat, Warramunga and Canberra took more than 4.5 megalitres of biofuel during RIMPAC. This is a significant increase on what we first experienced in 2012,” Rear Admiral Mayer said.
“We look forward to continuing our great partnership with the US Navy and value the open and transparent sharing of information.”
One of the US Navy’s carrier strike groups now deploys on alternative fuels, including nuclear power for the carrier and a blend of advanced biofuel made from beef fat and traditional petroleum for its escort ships. Stethem is a part of that group.
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During the visit, key personnel travelled to Brisbane to sign a Joint Statement of Cooperation between the US Navy and the Queensland Government regarding the development of alternative fuels. READ MORE
