Over the weekend, Navy ship HMPNGS Lakekamu successfully transported three RPNGC armored vehicles and other vital election materials from Port Moresby to Lae. The PNGDF Landing Craft left the shores of Port Moresby on Tuesday 24th June and sailed all the way to Milne Bay, Popondetta and finally arrived in Lae to deliver the election items. The three armored vehicles were than driven out of the ship and given to members of the RPNGC who were at the wharf to receive the vehicles. RPNGC Acting officer in charge for Transport Sergeant Manu Volu thanked the rest of the HMPNGS navy crews for successfully transporting the three vehicles over to Lae. The vehicles will be driven to Mt Hagen and will be used to provide security during the poling and counting period. [caption id="attachment_23020" align="alignnone" width="906"] LCH Lakekamu Second in Command Sub Lieutenant Erick Yakom Aikung handing over the armoured vehicle keys to Officer In Charge for RPNGC Transport Sergeant Manu Volu at the Lae main wharf on Saturday. Picture by PNGDF CIMIC Team.[/caption] HMPNGS Lakekamu left the shores of Lae the same day and sailed to Popondettea. On board are two RPNGC small patrol boats that were loaded again in Lae to be delivered to Popondetta to assist in the election. HMPNGS Commanding Officer Lieutenant (Navy) Bryan Pohai is very confident about his ship performance with his sailors on board. “The trip has been good, we have been getting enough support from maritime cell back in Port Moresby, National Surveillance Center and today we will be establishing contact with the joint Task Force headquarters in Lae. The ship itself is a 40 plus years old ship and at times we are faced minor defects in the engine but thanks to our good and experienced engineering sailors that managed to fix the engine,” said Commanding Officer Pohai. [caption id="attachment_23021" align="alignnone" width="906"] RPNGGC armored vehicle ready to be driven out from LCH Lakekamu in Lae on Satureday. Picture by PNGDF CIMIC Team[/caption] He said on board HMPNGS Lakemu are a team of 25 sailors plus three embedded personnel which are two navy divers and an intelligence officer participating in this election operation. This adds up to 28 personnel on board. Team Lakekamu will be patrolling the shores of Morobe, Popondeta and Milne Bay waters to assist in providing security and logistical support during the election time.