This blog post was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Avatar photo

Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Part of UK in Australia

1st December 2014

HMAS Canberra: Australia’s new amphibious capability

Up close, warships look enormous. As we approached Woolloomooloo Wharf in Sydney for the commissioning ceremony, HMAS Canberra, Australia’s newest – and largest ever – naval vessel loomed over the invited guests.

HE Paul Madden at the commissioning ceremony for HMAS Canberra
HE Paul Madden at the commissioning ceremony for HMAS Canberra

Navies do these things in style. The Governor General, Prime Minister and senior naval officers all spoke, Padres blessed the ship, the band played. Best of all was when the new ship’s crew marched on, looking very proud to be taking possession of such an impressive new ship. Their families looked on, rightly swelling with vicarious pride.

HMAS Canberra, an LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock), brings a step change in the RAN’s ability to project amphibious force. In addition to the 400 crew, it can carry some 1,000 troops, who can be transported ashore by helicopters or specialised landing craft which launch from a flooded lower deck well. Its medical facilities rival those of most small city hospitals. It will also be able to play a vital role in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief around the region.

The ship is  a truly international collaboration. The hulls were built in Spain by Navantia, and the superstructure was added in Australia at BAE Systems shipyard in Williamstown, Melbourne, together with the complex combat and communications systems. I was interested to note that the ship’s commanding officer is a joint Australian/Canadian citizen, born in the English county of Lancashire.

As a close military partner of Australia, we are delighted to see this impressive addition to its military capabilities.

About Paul Madden

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017. He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia…

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017.

He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia until February 2015. Prior to this he was British High Commissioner in Singapore from 2007-2011.

A career diplomat, he was previously Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2004-2006), responsible for co-ordinating and
implementing international trade development strategies to support
companies across a wide range of business sectors.

As Assistant Director of Information at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (2003-2004) he was responsible for public diplomacy policy,
including managing the FCO funding of the BBC World Service, the British
Council and the Chevening Scholarships programme. He led the team
responsible for the award-winning UK pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan
2005.

He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore from 2000-2003 and has
also served in Washington (1996-2000) and Tokyo (1988-92). Between
1992-96 he worked on EU enlargement and Environmental issues at the FCO
in London.

Before joining FCO he worked at the Department of Trade and Industry
(1980-87) on a range of industrial sectors and trade policy, including
two years as a minister’s Private Secretary.

He has an MA in Economic Geography from Cambridge University, an MBA
from Durham University, studied Japanese at London University’s School
of Oriental and African Studies, and is a Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society. His first book, Raffles: Lessons in Business
Leadership, was published in 2003.

Married to Sarah, with three children, he was born in 1959, in Devon.

Follow Paul