Just after few months ,the whole fleet of Armidale Class Patrol Boats
has to be docked again!
Similar restrictions (OPERATIONAL RESTRICTIONS)were introduced in September 2006 and the ships were returned to operational service in October 2006 following extensive checks of the fuel systems in all ships of the class.
Despite an extensive investigation into the likely cause and redesign of engineering controls, continued water contamination in the main engine fuel system has led to pump failures, hence the implementation of further restrictions by the Maritime Commander.
---http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=6333,30.JAN.2007.Defence Media Liaison
Again ,Aussie navy ship is hitted by fuel contamination.Worst,''a repeat of the circumstances that
led to four deaths on HMAS Westralia in 1998''.Why ?This is a system failure inside Aussie Navy?Corruption?Incapable?
What is so complicated to check quality of fuel?
4 deaths still can not remind them to do a proper job.
1
'Dad's navy' fills in for faulty ships, Mark Dodd.February 03, 2007....AN urgent recall of the $550million fleet of new Armidale-class patrol boats because of recurring fuel contamination problems has forced the deployment of a "Dad's navy" flotilla to secure the vulnerable Top End.
All seven commissioned Armidale patrol craft, designed and constructed by West Australian shipbuilder Austal, are now tied up in Darwin because of fears that the fuel pumps could cause a catastrophic engine-room fire.
Marine engineers told The Weekend Australian the pump on HMAS Armidale had cracked as a result of fuel contamination, spewing an explosive fuel mix into the vessel's confined engine-room space, a repeat of the circumstances that led to four deaths on HMAS Westralia in1998....
Patrol fleet docked over defect, Mark Dodd, February 02, 20072.I wonder if this happen in SG ,causing navy ships docked,
how many heads will be chopped.
Armidale Class Patrol BoatsSEA 1444 - Armidale Class Patrol Boatadded 05 Feb 2007Oil tanker ,which replace the navy tanker of 4 deaths,is still fail
in fire safety rules and
speed only 16 knots!!Auditors hit defence body over ship defects,Sarah Smiles, Canberra,February 5, 2007...Inspectors did not see visible escape signs or first-aid equipment on board.....
Yet the audit office report suggests that the procurement process was rushed and as a result the new ship is no more capable than the Westralia in terms of speed.
With a maximum speed of 16 knots, the Westralia was unable to provide oil and water to fleets operating at higher speeds. Defence officials viewed a target speed of 18 knots as optimal.
Yet it was replaced with a commercial ship capable of only 15 to 16 knot speeds, after the DMO revised its initial budget downwards.