NSW Maritime praises WYD Boats
In the wake of His Holiness' visit to Sydney, NSW Maritime issued a thank you to all those who assisted in delivering the aquatic aspects associated with World Youth Day (14 - 20 July). 
'The Pope’s visit was carefully orchestrated around Darling Harbour and Sydney Harbour.'
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Boats involved included the Barangaroo BSO patrol, 21 gun salute, boat-a-cade and stations of the cross.
NSW Maritime provided WYD organisers with a number of on-water controls to ensure the safety and security of all people using the harbour.
World Youth Day was the largest event this year outside the Beijing Olympic Games. The harbour arrival of the Pope on Thursday 17 July was one of the signature events, and attracted an international television audience estimated at up to 1 billion viewers.
The Papal arrival began at 2.45pm on Sydney Harbour and the Pope disembarked at Barangaroo, where he addressed a crowd of up to 140,000 pilgrims. Later he travelled by his 'Pope-mobile' through the streets of the northern CBD, arriving at St. Mary's Cathedral.
The Pope's official fleet was accompanied by a flotilla of escorting vessels. Only authorised vessels were able to participate in the escorting flotilla.
Recreational spectator craft were welcome to join in the spirit of the occasion and although spectator numbers afloat were down on expectation, the event went according to plan.
NSW Maritime worked closely with a fleet of harbour traffic control vessels that included its own patrol boats and those of the Water Police, plus vessels with volunteer crews from the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and Surf Life Saving.
The timing and navigational challenges associated with the boat-a-cade were testing and to accomplish arriving one minute ahead of schedule was extremely satisfying.
NSW Maritime extends a warm thank you to all those who contributed to this effort and that includes the Charter Vessels Association, Sydney Ports Corporation and Sydney Ferries Corporation, to ensure a safe and secure harbour event for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
More at www.wydca.nsw.gov.au.
by NSW Maritime 
Curl Curl, NSW
