RSS Tenacious snagged an underwater power cable in Darwin, Australia

[xtemujin]

Singapore cooperating in power cable probe

Posted September 12, 2010 12:37:00

Singapore's ministry of defence says it will cooperate with investigations into how one of its navy vessels snagged an underwater power cable in Darwin.

Singapore navy vessel RSS Tenacious was anchored in Darwin Harbour for Exercise Singaroo 2010.

A statement from the defence ministry says the ship was told it was anchored too close to underwater cables and it should relocate.

But when crew members attempted to pull up the anchor it snagged a 66,000-volt power cable and raised it 30 metres from the seabed.

The Power and Water Corporation says it may be some days before the extent of the damage to the cable is known, but has indicated there may be an expensive repair bill.

The harbour master is investigating the incident, which he says happened in a clearly marked "no anchor" area.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/12/3009380.htm?site=darwin&section=news

 

[ManWearPants]

aiyo....so bloody unlucky! anchor got tangled with undersea 66kVA cable....the repair and compensation cost will be damn expensive.

 

[allenleonhart]

aiyo....so bloody unlucky! anchor got tangled with undersea 66kVA cable....the repair and compensation cost will be damn expensive.

noting that it comes from our pockets.:angry:

idiocity has never failed to amaze me.

 

[hongsien]

Parking in a No-Park zone!........lets wait and see who told them to park there in the first place

Luckily, nowadays they don't pull up anchors by hand, 66kV

 

[ManWearPants]

good thing it mentioned snagged and not snapped. I wonder what will happened if the anchor brings live current through the anchor to the hull. Will the entire vessel explode?

 

[xtemujin]

11 September

Around 6.15pm yesterday evening an underwater cable was snagged by a foreign naval vessel in a defined restricted area of Darwin harbour.

As this area contains the high voltage under-sea cables that provide power supply to Mandorah/Cox Peninsula, for safety reasons and as a precautionary measure, power to residents in the area was disconnected.

Backup power was supplied to residents from midnight last night.

Customers in the area are asked to disconnect any non-essential electrical equipment to ensure the temporary power supply is efficiently managed for all residents.

Power and Water is working with all relevant authorities to ensure the cable can be safely accessed and an assessment can be undertaken. Divers will take video footage of the cable at low tide this afternoon for viewing by Power and Water technicians.

Further updates will be provided tomorrow, Sunday 12 September.



Divers to investigate cable damage

12 September

Power and Water has engaged local divers to photograph the extent of damage that may have occurred when a naval vessel snagged an underwater cable in Darwin Harbour on Friday.

General Manager Power Networks Bertram Birk said divers would 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," Mr Birk said.

"I am advised it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before the currents are more favourable."

Power and Water Corporation would like to remind customers in Mandorah and the Cox Peninsula area to unplug all non-essential appliances to ensure the current temporary power supply is managed efficiently for all customers.

http://www.powerwater.com.au/newsroom/news_item/2010

 

[ManWearPants]

I wonder the extend of compensation required....just for damaged cable repair or for the inconveniences of the areas affected as well. :sweat:

 

[+evenstar]

i'm hoping that it's the person who told the vessel crew to drop anchor who screwed up his/her coordinates instead of our navy guys who made the error

 

[humanTORCH]

what ever it is our navy should know if it's a no go area.
If the electronic or paper chart show it no go means it no go.