Merchant ship hits S'pore naval vessel near Pedra Branca
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Don't fight! Don't argue! People just died! Not nice!
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Dead Singapore navy servicewoman identified as CPL Goh Hui Ling, 22
By Lee Foong Ming
The body of the servicewoman recovered from the RSS Courageous has been identified as 22-year-old Corporal Goh Hui Ling, a graduate in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Corporal Goh joined the Republic of Singapore Navy in 2001, MINDEF said in a statement.
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Navy divers recovered her body at about 4 pm Saturday, sandwiched between the bunks in the women's sleeping quarters.
She was one of four servicewomen trapped in the flooded aft compartment of the Republic of Singapore Navy's RSS Courageous, which was involved in a collision with the Dutch-registered ANL Indonesia late on Friday in the eastern Singapore Straits near Pedra Branca.
It is believed she is the first woman to die while on military duty in the history of the Singapore Armed Forces.
MINDEF and the SAF have extended their deepest condolences to CPL Goh's family.
Intensive efforts are still underway to locate the three remaining servicewomen who were also in their sleeping quarters at the time of the collision.
The operation involves draining the water from the extensively damaged RSS Courageous, which is now berthed at the Changi Naval Base.
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan said Saturday that search and rescue operations at the scene of the collision near Pedra Branca will also continue.
But he has cautioned Singaporeans to be prepared for the worst.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/28867/1/.html -
Dead Singapore navy servicewoman identified as CPL Goh Hui Ling, 22
By Lee Foong Ming
The body of the servicewoman recovered from the RSS Courageous has been identified as 22-year-old Corporal Goh Hui Ling, a graduate in Electronics and Computer Engineering from the Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
wTfz!~!!!!! I went to NP last time for small introductory course thingie and she was mi leader!!! !%!^^!@$!@$%!@#@# -
Originally posted by HARIMAU:Not relevant you said???How do you explain the nos of RSAF/RSN asset near the accident site?Just for the sake of show of force?SAR do not require such deployment-SAR with deterence in mind might.
Ha! our "friend" here just don't use brains and also thinks that human life is cheap. Well we don't think so and also we don't leave our people out there by themselves. -
And to prevent you and your stinkin navy from popping by to take a look.Originally posted by sgboy2004:for defence and seal off the area?
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have u seen the size of that cargo ship?!?!Originally posted by ETboy:u see ah i wonder leh... now the warship steel "quality" so lousy... 1 collide onli so jia lat almost sink somemore ... i wonder in war time hor i think 1 missile dirrect hit can sink the whole ship sia....
the collision was like a garbage truck vs a kiddie tricycle -
Sorry this message is meant of our dear mat not for you sorryOriginally posted by Matlaysia:And to prevent harimau and his stinkin navy from popping by to take a look. -
my thoughts and feelings go out to the missing and the dead crewOriginally posted by laser51088:Officer of the watch on the 8pm-12am (accident occured at 11:35pm) shift is captain himself, captain has the bridge on that shift, at least that is the standard on almost all ships, so I expect it to be the same with RSS Courageous
but please worry abt the crew members first before you start worrying abt court martial
and I dun intend to comment on HARIMAU's paranoid and unnecessary comments at least until the matter of missing crew is settled and more official data comes out. . .
wat i did was merely reply to a quote that seems inept
pls look at my other posts first before u jump to ur own conclusions
thank you and no offence intended -
looking at the picture of the stricken vessel before and after the accident, given the total devastation, it is a wonder how she manage to keep afloat in the first place, any navy guys out there that can advise me....
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ok...u gave mi a fright...btw u can edit the previous message if u need to.Originally posted by Matlaysia:Sorry this message is meant of our dear mat not for you sorry
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As i was thinking those officers that were tasked to break the news of the death of the service woman to the parents, how and wat were on their minds as they were traveling towards the house of the deceased lady's family house.
Well, u can tell mi that they are tasked to do it and they will do it professionally...well. Guess there will be some form of emotional struggle too...especially when they break the news to the deceased family members.
Condolences to the deceased family members.
Hope the other 3 hav better news. -
Originally posted by kanzer:looking at the picture of the stricken vessel before and after the accident, given the total devastation, it is a wonder how she manage to keep afloat in the first place, any navy guys out there that can advise me....
The big ship only suffered grazes. Just like an army truck knocking into a civilian cars...... -
From the straitstimes website:
Tension mounted as the day wore on with rescuers searching for the four women specialists trapped in the back of the RSS Courageous.
K. C. VIJAYAN reports on how cautious optimism gave way to a warning to be prepared for the worst.
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FRIDAY
11.35PM
BOW of container vessel ANL Indonesia sails out of Singapore Straits and rams into the rear of RSS Courageous on its right side.
RSS Courageous has been on a routine patrol since morning while the ANL Indonesia is heading towards Busan, South Korea, after leaving Port Klang on Friday.
The collision occurs about 1.5 km north-west of Pedra Branca. The impact of a larger ship of more than 50,000 gross tonne weight and a vessel less than half its size, weighing 460 tonnes is tremendous.
The anti-submarine craft's rear is sheared off. The aft caves inwards. Even the mast tower is damaged.
A Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) spokesman says weather conditions allow for clear visibility at the time. Traffic flow in the area was normal, she adds.
Four women naval specialists, aged between 22 and 25, asleep in a rear compartment, are trapped. The ship begins to list and water floods the two compartments adjoining the trapped women's room.
Eight other men from the 44-strong crew on board are injured slightly.
FRIDAY
11.40PM
ALERTED, the Defence Ministry sends first rescue helicopter from Sembawang Air Base.
Shortly afterwards, six Republic of Singapore Navy ships, three Police Coast Guard craft, four tug boats and a ferry move in to help.
Efforts to locate the trapped four involve a difficult and complicated operation, requiring the ship to be stabilised first to prevent it from sinking.
ANL Indonesia notifies MPA. It does not seek assistance as it only suffers a slight dent on its front.
MPA sends two fire-fighting craft to area.
SATURDAY
5.30AM
EIGHT injured crewman admitted to Changi General Hospital.
They are conveyed by Police Coast Guard craft to Changi Ferry Point and then ferried to the hospital.
Five are discharged by noon while the remaining three - First Sergeants Koh Tze Ann, 26, Ang Wee Soon, 27, and Second Sergeant Tan Meng Wah, 24 - are warded for observation.
SATURDAY
7.15AM
ANL Indonesia with 23-man crew of 12 Dutchmen and 11 Indonesians on board drops anchor at Eastern Anchorage waters, some 4 km from Sentosa.
The agent for the ship's owner, P&0 Nedlloyd, says damage is minor and the ship is ready to continue its voyage but is remaining to assist in investigations.
SATURDAY
12.15PM
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tony Tan accompanied by Second Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and senior Mindef officers hold a press conference.
He says RSS Courageous is being towed back to Changi Naval Base while search and rescue efforts are continuing at the collision scene with additional Air Force and Navy craft.
'We are doing everything possible on the ship and hope to complete the rescue operation as soon as possible. We share the distress of the families of the four servicewomen who are still unaccounted for and are doing our utmost.'
He says he does not want to speculate on the condition or location of the women.
SATURDAY
2.30PM
EVEN as search efforts continue at the collision site, the RSS Courageous arrives in tow at Changi Naval Base.
It is lifted up in a dry area and water drains from the ship to allow rescuers to enter the severely damaged compartments.
SATURDAY
5.15PM
DR TAN, after inspecting the wrecked vessel, tells reporters that divers have found the body of one servicewoman inside. She is found lodged between the bunks.
Search operations at the crash site will continue, he says, while divers continue to pry the crunched rear of the vessel to locate the other three women.
'We need to take further time to ascertain the location of the other three servicewomen,' he adds.
He does not think the load of the ship, with 44 crew members on board, instead of its capacity of 32 people, had a bearing on the collision.
Acknowledging that hopes are fading, he says: 'We must be prepared for the worst. Our hearts go out to the families of the four servicewomen.
'We have had severe accidents in the past.
'In terms of possible loss of life, this is the largest loss of life in a single accident that the RSN has encountered.'
AT PRESS TIME
A MINDEF spokesman says operations are continuing both on the ship and the crash site to look for the missing three women. -
no offence taken,Originally posted by whiteillum:my thoughts and feelings go out to the missing and the dead crew
wat i did was merely reply to a quote that seems inept
pls look at my other posts first before u jump to ur own conclusions
thank you and no offence intended
that was a general comment not aimed at you in particular, sort of just used it as example. . .sorry
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Divers are in the area of the accident to look at the sheared off section of the ship to c if the 3 other women are trapped there.
Just getting worried that till now, no news of them is reported. -
Originally posted by sgboy2004:Divers are in the area of the accident to look at the sheared off section of the ship to c if the 3 other women are trapped there.
Just getting worried that till now, no news of them is reported. Reminds me of a comic book I read, but only difference is, this is real. -
Shipping lawyers say there are international regulations to prevent collisions, which are set by the London-based International Maritime Organisation and adopted by seafaring nations.
In fact, any ship found to be responsible for a collision can be fined up to $10,000 here, under the Merchant Shipping Act.
Some of the laws state, for instance, that radar equipment should be used for early warning signs of a collision.
In busy shipping lanes, ships are also supposed to travel at speeds which would allow them to avoid collisions.
Ships also have to stick to their lanes, but if for some reason they wish to cross lanes, they have to do so at a right angle to the flow of traffic.
It is also traditional practice for a ship that sees the left side of another ship coming onto its path to give way.
In the case of the collision between the anti-submarine patrol ship RSS Courageous and container vessel ANL Indonesia, it is not clear which direction the former was travelling in.
Beyond such legal safeguards, ship captains avoid collisions by being careful, said experienced seamen.
Mr Gopalakrishnan said that all merchant ships must have identifying lights.
'But if there's rain, visibility will be poor and it's hard to see the lights,' he said.
A Mindef spokesman said that besides using radar to spot vessels, they deploy six-man teams which scan the waters for four hours at a stretch.
These precautions, however, do not guarantee accidents will not occur.
Mr Robert Karniol, Asia-Pacific bureau chief for leading security journal Jane's Defence Weekly, said the weather, sea conditions, the crew's experience and even the efficiency of the radar systems could be con- tributing variables.
Captain James Fong, president of the Singapore Nautical Institute, added that the sea may have been choppy because of the north-east monsoon.
'Vessels are affected by the strong waves and heavy swell.
'The merchant ship might not have been able to see the navy ship, which could have been bobbing up and down, hidden between two waves,' he said.
He added that studies have shown that 80 per cent of collisions are the result of human error. -
Ships are built with separate watertight compartments, with access through watertight hatches and doors.
Looking at the photos of the damaged RSS Courageous, it would seem that at least Twenty Percent of its aft section has been sheared off – (as stated by MINDEF).
MINDEF has also stated that search operations is continuing at the crash site. This will indicate that the other 3 missing Navy Girls are still in the vicinity of the crash site; and will be in the aft section which is their sleeping quarters.
If the watertight doors are clamped shut, then that section will remain watertight and there will be air trapped in that section.
However, if that aft section is crushed and sheared off – (as in the remaining section of RSS Courageous)- the water tightness of that aft section would have been compromised; unless the shearing off did not affect the integrity of the compartment that formed the sleeping quarters.
From the photos of the damaged ship, the impact of the crash has also brought down the shipÂ’s mast that is welded onto the ship, the other loosely fitted items such as missiles and torpedoes will definitely have fallen out of its welded housing (if the entire weapon housing did not come loose too).
The search will be on for the missing section, to bring up the missing Navy Girls, as well as to recover the missing equipment that should not fall into “unauthorized hands”.
Hopefully, the waters will not be too deep, or the under-currents too strong around Preda Branca. -
[quote]Originally posted by Atobe:
[b]Ships are built with separate watertight compartments, with access through watertight hatches and doors.
Looking at the photos of the damaged RSS Courageous, it would seem that at least Twenty Percent of its aft section has been sheared off – (as stated by MINDEF).
MINDEF has also stated that search operations is continuing at the crash site. This will indicate that the other 3 missing Navy Girls are still in the vicinity of the crash site; and will be in the aft section which is their sleeping quarters.
If the watertight doors are clamped shut, then that section will remain watertight and there will be air trapped in that section.
However, if that aft section is crushed and sheared off – (as in the remaining section of RSS Courageous)- the water tightness of that aft section would have been compromised; unless the shearing off did not affect the integrity of the compartment that formed the sleeping quarters.
From the photos of the damaged ship, the impact of the crash has also brought down the shipÂ’s mast that is welded onto the ship, the other loosely fitted items such as missiles and torpedoes will definitely have fallen out of its welded housing (if the entire weapon housing did not come loose too).
The search will be on for the missing section, to bring up the missing Navy Girls, as well as to recover the missing equipment that should not fall into “unauthorized hands”.
Hopefully, the waters will not be too deep, or the under-currents too strong around Preda Branca.
Yup we don't want the boys up north and south to get their filthy hands on our country's toys. -
For those who are interested to know, as well as clearing up some misconceptions, the RSS Courageous is built of steel for the hull only, while the superstructure is made of aluminium alloy. This type of construction is quite the norm for naval vessels of this size, or most vessels smaller than frigate size. Only frigates and bigger are built entirely of steel, with the exception of some classes, eg. French Lafayette Class Frigate, where the superstructure is built from composites (correct me if I'm wrong).
Another misconception I would like to corrrect is that ships built from steel doen't mean they are armored, simply because the steel plates used are no longer as thick as those used for WW2 era ships. They are at most a couple of inches compared to several inches in WW2 cruisers, and much more for battleships. Even then, cruisers in WW2 that were involved in collisions (or rammed by bigger vessels) had broken into 2 halves let only RSS Courageous.
One observation that was probably overlooked by members on this board is the effort made by the crew to keep the vessel afloat even though the vessel's buoyancy was compromised to say the least. I think the crew had done tremendously well in damage control to keep the vessel afloat after the aft part was practically sheared off.
Kudos should go to them. But questions will have to be answered, the commanders will have to shoulder the blame, period.
My sympathies to the family of the deceased female crew member. -
the damage control team did well and managed to seal off the two flooded compartment. This keep the ship afloat.Originally posted by kanzer:looking at the picture of the stricken vessel before and after the accident, given the total devastation, it is a wonder how she manage to keep afloat in the first place, any navy guys out there that can advise me.... -
Originally posted by Atobe:
the ships are still on SAR mission. recovering equipment comes later. at this time of the year, the waves are pretty bad.
The search will be on for the missing section, to bring up the missing Navy Girls, as well as to recover the missing equipment that should not fall into “unauthorized hands”.
Hopefully, the waters will not be too deep, or the under-currents too strong around Preda Branca.
[/b] -
From CNA:
Body of woman found in Bintan could be one of 3 missing RSN crew
The body of a Chinese woman has been found at the Bintan Lagoon Resort and Mindef says it could be one of three RSN officers still missing after their ship collided with a merchant vessel.
Mindef said it was informed of the discovery at about 10am Sunday.
A team of officers from the Singapore Armed Forces, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Criminal Investigation Department are at the resort to ascertain her identity.
Mindef said there is a possibility the body is one of the three servicewomen still missing after the collision between the RSN's RSS Courageous and the Dutch-registered ANL Indonesia. -
there should be updates on CNA soon on the fate of the remaining three. go see for yourself. i'm going off now.
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News update from CNA at 15:00hrs.
MINDEF has said that the body of a Chinese woman was found at Bintan Lagoon Resort, Indonesia; and likely to be one of the missing Navy girls.
Looks like the missing aft section of RSS Courageous has "opened up" like a sardine can, and the 3 missing Navy women may not be trapped in the missing section.
The watertight compartment must have been compromised, and the missing Navy girls may no longer be trapped, as hoped; but the strong sea current will require a wider search area - given the duration since the time of crash.