Invitation

I welcome this opportunity to invite you to attend the forthcoming Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sea Power Conference 2010, which will again be held as part of the biennial Pacific Maritime Congress and Exposition.

The Pacific 2010 Maritime Congress and Exposition involves three interrelated events:

• The RAN Sea Power Conference 2010, hosted by the RAN and organised by the 
  Sea Power Centre – Australia.
• The Pacific 2010 International Maritime Conference, hosted by Engineers Australia, The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.
• The Pacific 2010 International Maritime Exposition, conducted by Maritime Australia Limited.

Collectively, the Conferences and Exposition will offer an intensely fulfilling program for all those with a professional interest in maritime affairs.

Now in its sixth iteration, the 2010 Conference will explore the broad theme of Combined and Joint Operations from the Sea, which is aimed at informing Australia’s new expeditionary capabilities and in particular, how they may be best introduced into service and used to advantage.  The planned acquisition of three AEGIS-equipped destroyers and two Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships over the period 2012-17 will allow the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to provide the Australian Government with much more sophisticated amphibious and expeditionary capabilities than currently exist.  How these new capabilities will be integrated into the ADF order of battle, joint and naval doctrine, future joint and maritime operational concepts and military culture will be critical to their effective use.

I have invited speakers who will present a range of perspectives in a creative and stimulating way to generate greater discussion of the challenges facing the ADF in the early 21st Century.

The Conference program has been designed to permit all delegates to visit the many industry displays in the Exposition itself, and to conduct informal professional discussions with exhibitors and fellow delegates.  The Conference fee includes free access to the Exposition, and access to relevant presentations at the International Maritime Conference.  The Conference proceedings will be published and distributed to all delegates after the event.

I strongly commend this most prestigious and comprehensive international maritime event, and invite you to join me at Darling Harbour in Sydney from 27 to 29 January 2010 for the RAN Sea Power Conference 2010.

R. H. CRANE
Vice Admiral, RAN Chief of Navy