Merchant ship hits S'pore naval vessel near Pedra Branca
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SINGAPORE -- A Singapore anti-submarine ship collided with a merchant vessel off Malaysia's southern coast near the disputed Pedra Branca, late on Friday, injuring eight people. Four others -- all women -- were still trapped in the damaged area of the warship on Saturday, the Singapore government said.
Efforts were still ongoing to free the four women, who were sleeping in the back part of the ship at the time of the collision, the Ministry of Defence said.
'They were in the sleeping quarters for female crew members at the time of the collision. The sleeping quarters are located in the aft of the ship where the most severe damage was sustained,' said Ministry of Defence spokesman Valerie Yeo.
Eight people from the ship suffered minor injuries, and three of them were taken to Changi General Hospital for observation, the ministry said.
The accident between the RSS Courageous and the ANL Indonesia, a container vessel headed for South Korea, occurred minutes before midnight off Pedra Branca, an islet claimed by both Singapore and Malaysia, the ministry added.
A source said that the RSS Courageous was hit on its side and that one of the four trapped women was unconscious.
'Navy divers assisted by the police coast guard are out there trying to free them. The right side of the ship is severely damaged,' said the source, adding that the accident occurred about 1.8 km north of Pedra Branca.
The ministry did not say if the ship was in danger of sinking or whether it was in Singapore territorial waters.
The 455-tonne RSS Courageous, commissioned in 1996, is one of six sub hunters in the Republic of Singapore Navy fleet. -- AP
jia lat siah.....this is bad..... -
indonesia ship?? Maybe Dr M asked them to do it...cos all muslim country mah
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Sure Malaysia side will add salt and pepper for this incident
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i think he will add chilli padi in it instead... more power...Originally posted by sugardaddy:Sure Malaysia side will add salt and pepper for this incident
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something interesting:
note on both the hazegray site, and official RSN site they list the number of crew for the Anti-submarine patrol vessels, of which RSS Courageous is one, as 30, however, mindef said that there were 44 crew members on board at the time of collision. . . that is 14 more crew members onboard that APV than officially stated. .
strange. . was wondering if all 44 of them were regular crew members?
perhaps official numbers meant 30 operating the ship while another 14 gets crew rest and they keep rotating shifts? i personally doubt so, but if its not, then why 44 crew members? -
That explains all the helicoptor activity late yesterday. The patrol boat is on tow back to Singapore.
Also, noticed increased helicoptor flights on the eastern side this morning. -
probably attached personel for training or it could be they could be some new crew coming in....anyway, the captain is going to have butter on his arse once he reach base....i think his career in the navy is all but over....... and so is his pension.......maybe he can start taking a taxi licence and start a new career....in being a cabbieOriginally posted by laser51088:something interesting:
note on both the hazegray site, and official RSN site they list the number of crew for the Anti-submarine patrol vessels, of which RSS Courageous is one, as 30, however, mindef said that there were 44 crew members on board at the time of collision. . . that is 14 more crew members onboard that APV than officially stated. .
strange. . was wondering if all 44 of them were regular crew members?
perhaps official numbers meant 30 operating the ship while another 14 gets crew rest and they keep rotating shifts? i personally doubt so, but if its not, then why 44 crew members? -
what about the career of the guy in charge of the sea search radar?
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Really surprised wif the collision.
What happened if the so called merchant vessel is a terrorist vessel in disguise?
For crying out loud to own state-of-the-art technology naval vessels, and they cant detect a coming ship on the path of collison. I am flabbergasted, if the chef has added some sleeping pills into the crews' milk bottles the nite before.
An interesting outcry on the capability of our navy vessels, that cant even douch a civilian ship, let alone a terrorits one.
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my Tom Clancy instincts tell me its a planned sabotage attack...
wonder how da injured female crew r doing...
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oh, got directed here, where i'll spread the law
Murphy's Law - When there are two boats in the sea, they will collide.
i see it as just plain suay -
Usually when diasters happened and rescue operations occurs, at the end of the day, some pple will be praised for the rescue...etc.. and then promotion.
So who will get promoted this time...someone from navy? Maybe not as someone's rank will drop.
In world's standard, this happens every now and then...just tat it seldom happens here...and hence a big fuss now over it. -
more problem again...
this time round will have more news... -
I'm just waiting for them to find JI personnel on the ship.
Now THAT would be trouble! -
Hav they found the JI flag thrown onto theh sg naval vessel after the strike?Originally posted by kopiosatu:I'm just waiting for them to find JI personnel on the ship.
Now THAT would be trouble! -
JI got flag meh?Originally posted by sgboy2004:Hav they found the JI flag thrown onto theh sg naval vessel after the strike? -
They will leave somethng to tell the world they were there, esp an attack on sg security.Originally posted by kopiosatu:JI got flag meh? -
hi pal!Originally posted by sgboy2004:They will leave somethng to tell the world they were there, esp an attack on sg security. -
Wonder what will happen to the ship. Will they repair her and put it back to service? Thats what the USN did to their USS Cole after it got blasted. Doubt the four female specialists will be put back to sea again due to psychological fears or problems resulting from the incident. Will propably be put for land duties.
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ususlly that is the case...Originally posted by eurofighter:Wonder what will happen to the ship. Will they repair her and put it back to service? Thats what the USN did to their USS Cole after it got blasted. Doubt the four female specialists will be put back to sea again due to psychological fears or problems resulting from the incident. Will propably be put for land duties.
Subject to the repair success, the ship is usually put back to service.
For the gals, it depends on their state...but i guess, some will be back in service...tat's wat they are trained for... in a real war, can we afford to just place them away cos a bullet flew pass the soldiers' helmet?
They are all qualified and well-trained personnel, and hope their training will be put to good use in this incident, and the 4 gals will be brave to withstand, and take this as part of reality as it is really part of their job. -
hiOriginally posted by edLow:hi pal! -
they have reached base and hopefully the wounded are not serious.
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the officer on watch as well as the entire bridge team may face questioning, not just the radar plotter.Originally posted by laser51088:what about the career of the guy in charge of the sea search radar? -
food for thoughts:
When you are driving, you are supposed to be alert, yet I see accident almost every other day. And may i add that the merchant ship ram into the butt of the rsn warship. Avoidance measure had been taken. Ship is difficult to maneourve unlike car. A sudden strong wave/underwater current can sweep ship off-course. And may I added that it was mignight. The ship is probably dimly lighted. That's explain the late response time. -
Ship radar also off???Originally posted by YI:food for thoughts:
When you are driving, you are supposed to be alert, yet I see accident almost every other day. And may i add that the merchant ship ram into the butt of the rsn warship. Avoidance measure had been taken. Ship is difficult to maneourve unlike car. A sudden strong wave/underwater current can sweep ship off-course. And may I added that it was mignight. The ship is probably dimly lighted. That's explain the late response time.
Land base radar also off??
pedra branca island radar also off??
and if E2C is on patrol... the radar also off??
wat about the PSA radar and collision alert system they operate?? OFF as well???
..... might as well switch their eyes off...
as i sees it.. there will be alot of questions and few answers....