My route takes me alongside the harbour, past naval patrol vessels, Coast Guard ships, service boats for the offshore oil platforms and a surprising number of fishing boats.

Eventually, they will work with the Navy's traditionally piloted Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft to patrol the seas and replace the P-3s that has served the service for four decades.

The 18 small patrol boats in the program will offer armed escorts through the Gulf of Aden, and reduce overall insurance costs for ships using the service.