So what is happening (since my December 8, 2018 article) with Norwegian frigate Helge Ingstad? Poor Helge came off worse in a collision with a tanker. Then Helge sank on November
8, 2018. Helge was raised
and transported to Norway’s main Haakonsvern naval base in February/March 2019. On seeing Helge in dock initial observations include an April 15, 2019, English language report:
after 3 months underwater Helge’s “electronics, electrical
equipment, fixtures and weapons systems are all ruined by saltwater
contamination and would need replacing. Coupled with the costs of repairing the
hull, bringing Helge Ingstad back into
service may not be worth it.”
There being few subsequent reports in English I turned to the Norwegian language media. I've translated the following from Norwegian. The summaries are:
A Norwegian source reports April 19, 2019 that the Norwegian inquiry into the collision-sinking may take 6 months due to the possibility of police proceedings and that radar, other navigation and communication systems/records need to be reviewed. [Pete Comment: I also suspect that the political imperative of forming a committee to finally report long after the shocking event, plays a part... Also the quality of Helge's Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia, and subsequent modifications may need assessing.]
According to a Norwegian April 23, 2019 source based on the Norwegian Armed Forced Annual Report the Helge Ingstad salvage cost the equivalent of US$84 million. Helge Ingstad was bought for US$496 million in 2000-2009 but following the sinking it has depreciated by US$254 million. Norway is weighing up whether to:
- return Helge to operations
- retain it for spare parts to cannibalise for Norway's other frigates, and/or
- sell the hull for scrap.
How low poor Helge sank when she settled to the bottom, 5 days later, on November 13, 2018. (Courtesy Norwegian source)
Helge Ingstad today? Damage partly covered to stop her from sinking, again. Maybe moored at Norway’s Haakonsvern naval base (Photo courtesy twitter).
A Norwegian source reports April 19, 2019 that the Norwegian inquiry into the collision-sinking may take 6 months due to the possibility of police proceedings and that radar, other navigation and communication systems/records need to be reviewed. [Pete Comment: I also suspect that the political imperative of forming a committee to finally report long after the shocking event, plays a part... Also the quality of Helge's Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia, and subsequent modifications may need assessing.]
According to a Norwegian April 23, 2019 source based on the Norwegian Armed Forced Annual Report the Helge Ingstad salvage cost the equivalent of US$84 million. Helge Ingstad was bought for US$496 million in 2000-2009 but following the sinking it has depreciated by US$254 million. Norway is weighing up whether to:
- return Helge to operations
- retain it for spare parts to cannibalise for Norway's other frigates, and/or
- sell the hull for scrap.
Helge Ingstad damage just after it semi-sank on November 8, 2018
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By mid-late 2019 the committee might report.
Pete
2 comments:
Salvage for spare parts seems ridiculous as they are completely ruined by sea water, although many ships in WW2 were hit by torpedoes which flooded many compartments and could be returned to service- that was before electronic controls.
I see the main reason for refloating is to discover if the main glands did leak, which is of enormous interest for Norways other ships of this class and of intense interest for those other countries who have Navantia builds
or designs and specifications.
Whatever way it goes re the frigate itself, or the obvious failings of crew etc, it’s the actual sinking that every navy wants the wherefore of. The question of design & build is obviously a worry for Spain & Norway. If it’s a ship design problem, then Australia has a problem via the Hobarts. However it’s the design & build of things like stuffing boxes etc that are the wider worry, not just for the fore mentioned. While it’s unsurprising that certain suppliers are preferred by certain manufacturers (its always easier to deal with the familiar), the fact is many suppliers reappear time & time again across many manufacturers. Even across suppliers, they often mirror each other. Patents have long since expired. It’s been decades since a NATO or allied major warship has sunk (with no missile or torpedo to blame). Even two high profile USN mishaps failed to sink, despite damage enough to cause considerable casualties. Aside from the Australian built Hobart’s, a number of other ships have been partly or fully built in Spain by the same designers & builders (including some still building).
You loose a F35 (as Japan has just done), you have lost one pilot & $100m. You loose the likes of a Hobart or T26 & you loose $1b & potentially 100+ crew. This is a Def Min nightmare. If no missile or torpedo, heads will roll.
There is more than one Admiral keeping an eye on their inbox re this.
Regards
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