• The KNM Helge Ingstad is now almost completely underwater.
Norwegian Coastal Administration/Armed Forces
    The KNM Helge Ingstad is now almost completely underwater. Norwegian Coastal Administration/Armed Forces
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Norway’s Accident Investigation Board’s report into the sinking of the KNM Helge Ingstad, a Navantia-built frigate that collided with a tanker outside the city of Bergen last month, has caused a stir for Defence.

The account of the accident makes for interesting reading.

“The accident was a complex one, involving several individuals, bridge crews, vessels, a VTS and the interaction between them,” the report said.

“During the southbound voyage at a speed of about 17–18 knots, the AIS on board KNM Helge Ingstad was set to receiver mode (receipt only, no transmission of own data), the vessel's navigation lights were lit and the vessel could be observed by radar.”

At 03:40, the navigation officer went through a handover procedure with the officer leaving watch.

At 03:57 the pilot of the tanker saw the frigate crossing his course line on radar but did not have an AIS signal. After repeated efforts, the pilot finally spoke to the Ingstad and requested a course change.

“The bridge crew on 'KNM Helge Ingstad' replied that they could not turn to starboard before they had passed the object they saw on their starboard side,” the report notes.

“When KNM Helge Ingstad did not change course, both the pilot and Fedje VTS [requested] the vessel to act. Shortly thereafter, KNM Helge Ingstad carried out an avoidance manoeuvre, but it was too late, and the two vessels collided.”

The report also highlights possible issues with watertight compartments on Navantia-made vessels, which include the RAN’s three Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers and flagship Landing Helicopter Docks.

“The crew found that water from the aft generator room was running into the gear room via the hollow propeller shafts and that the gear room was filling up fast. From the gear room, the water then ran into and was flooding the aft and fore engine rooms via the stuffing boxes in the bulkheads.

“It cannot be excluded that the same applies to vessels of a similar design delivered by Navantia, or that the design concept continues to be used for similar vessel models.”

In response to a query from ADM, Defence played down the impact of the report.

“Defence is working jointly with Navantia to understand whether there are any design or equipment issues that come out of the accident investigation that may be applicable to the Hobart Class.

“Although the investigation is still in its early stages, Defence notes the Hobart Class Destroyers and the RNoN Nansen Class Frigates are significantly different, especially in the engineering configuration, equipment and compartment layouts.”

The need for a joint investigation suggests that more news on the impact of the Norwegian accident on the RAN may emerge in the coming months.

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