The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is investigating how the
RSS Tenacious, a 141- metre-long stealth frigate, damaged
an underwater cable at a Darwin naval base after the
vessel’s anchor became entangled in a power line.
The ship was anchored in Darwin Habour after being part of a
six-day maritime exercise which ended last Friday.
Australian news reports said the incident happened when crew
members of the Tenacious attempted to pull up the anchor when it
snagged a 66,000-volt power cable and raised it 30 metres from the
seabed.
Northern Territory’s Power and Water Corporation have engaged
divers to investigate the extent of the damage and added it may
take some time before the extent of the damage to the cable is
known.
General Manager of Power Networks Bertram Birk said in a
statement that its divers will enter the water when visibility in
the area improved.
“It appears that strong currents are making visibility poor and
not allowing us good images for diagnosis,” Birk said.
“I am advised it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before the currents
are more favourable.”
The harbour master, who is investigating the incident, also
added that the incident happened in a clearly marked “no anchor”
area.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef)
on Sunday, crew members of the Tenacious were informed by port
authorities on Friday afternoon that the warship might be anchored
“too close to some underwater cables”.
Mindef spokesman Desmond Tan said in a Straits Times report:
“The Royal Australian Navy Port Services advised RSS Tenacious to
relocate to a new anchorage position.”
He said that when crew aboard the frigate attempted to retrieve
the anchor in the afternoon, they found it had become tangled with
an underwater cable.
He added: “RSS Tenacious immediately ceased the anchor recovery
operation and decided to recover the anchor during low tide.”
The anchor was eventually detached from the cable and retrieved
after a 90-minute operation that was carried out in the presence of
the naval base’s port authorities.
The “Singaroo” is an the annual maritime exercise between the
Singapore and Australian navies is now in its 14th year. This
year’s exercise was hosted by the Royal Australian Navy.
A naval warship is built to destroy enemy, but it keeps the
enemy away thus maintaining peace, constructive or destructive?
Ever seen an accident at a construction site? constructive or
destructive?
