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  • #16


    Quote:
    HALIFAX -- One of the crewmembers injured in a fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi is dead. Prime Minister Martin announced the death in Ottawa today.

    Three injured sailors, including one reportedly in critical condition, were arlifted from a heavily damaged Canadian submarine late Wednesday as the rest their crewmates remained adrift off the coast of Ireland for a second night.

    The men were declared the most in need of medical attention after a major fire Tuesday left HMCS Chicoutimi dead in the water.

    "They were the worst of the casualties," said Richard Buckland, a commander with the British Navy.

    Buckland said the navy had planned to take the injured men by helicopter to a hospital in northern Ireland, but the chopper was diverted to a closer hospital in Sligo, in southern Ireland after one of the men's condition worsened.

    Officials at Sligo General Hospital said one of the men was listed in critical condition while his two shipmates had been able to walk in, the Associated Press reported from London. No further details were available.

    Canadian navy officials in Halifax couldn't confirm the report.

    The diesel-electric submarine, one of four used subs recently leased from the Royal Navy, was on its maiden voyage to Canada when the fire broke out.

    A British frigate pulled alongside the sub Wednesday and dropped off a doctor and an assistant.

    Canadian officials admitted the fire, which is believed to have started between the commanding officer's cabin and an electrical room, was more serious than first thought.

    "This was a major fire," Commodore Tyrone Pile told a news conference in Halifax.

    "The fire was of sufficient strength that most of the submarine's portable firefighting equipment was used to put it out."

    Comment


    • #17
      Just listening to this mornings "Morning Ireland", this submarine is now well inside the Irish SAR area. The minister for state stated that it will now be RNLI, Irish Helicopters co-ordinating the rescue. Ithas still not been determined what they are to do with the submarine, Either to be towed back to the Clyde or brought to an Irish inlet to get out of the inclement weather. He was also saying that the Captain of the LE Aoife was now the scene commnader.

      I would also like to know why if the s61 based in sligo has a range of 400 miles plus, wnhy it was not used earlier or was it?
      "Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well." -Craig Stadler

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      • #18
        Maybe up until now the Canadians and British had preferred to deal with the situation with the UK services based in Northern Ireland??? Im sure our coastguard and the Aer Corps s61 were on standby to assist if requested.
        "He is an enemy officer taken in battle and entitled to fair treatment."
        "No, sir. He's a sergeant, and they don't deserve no respect at all, sir. I should know. They're cunning and artful, if they're any good. I wouldn't mind if he was an officer, sir. But sergeants are clever."

        Comment


        • #19
          Answered my own question, seen clips on the 9 o'clock news, the aerial shots were from Irish Coast Guard.

          Does the Irish Navy have any ocean going Tugs? Is there a need for such equipment?
          "Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well." -Craig Stadler

          Comment


          • #20
            It also seems that the Canadian Gov were in the process of sueing the UK DOD because of the state of the 4 submarines they purchased.
            "Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well." -Craig Stadler

            Comment


            • #21
              we should have at least tugs !!

              I dont know who to blame though, the canadians cos they are always doing dum cock ups like this or the brits flogging dodgy gear to make a quick buck.

              Comment


              • #22
                A Lt. Chris Saunders has died from his wounds from the fire in the submarine and eight other crew men are still injured. He was being transported to a hospital in Londonderry but his situtation worsened and the flight was diverted to Sligo. I don't have anymore details than that currently but condolences to his family and friends.
                Si vis pacem para bellum

                Comment


                • #23
                  There has been a need to provide ocean going tugs with a 150tonne Bollard pull for some time now. The UK has tendered this out to a private company who work under the control of HM Coastguard,located in the North and south of the country.


                  Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    according to tonights news it was reported that a request may be made to allow the the submarine beth in an irish port if the adverse sea conditions persist. can u imagine how this will go down with the greenies and the crusties ?

                    these would be the same greens who are attacking the government for not buying an ocean going tug for such emergencies.

                    they attack defence spending but when something like this happen they bemoan the lack of defence spending
                    god help us if they ever hold the balance of power
                    Anyone need a spleen ?

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      It was like the "Green" praising the Gov for deploying the Coast Guard and the Navy to look out for the nuclear transport over the weekend, however if you said to the greens the Navy need larger ships and more crrew to crew them, they will put their heads in the sand, and mouth off saying we dont need a military. As they have said on previous occassions, they would like us to have the same set up as Peurto Rico, however PR is a US protecterate.
                      "Why am I using a new putter? Because the last one didn't float too well." -Craig Stadler

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        RE: Towing

                        From Dail report in 2003

                        "The Irish Lights tender Granuaile was designed with anti-pollution capabilities in mind. Its 50 tonne towing capacity can hold a stricken vessel offshore pending arrival of tugs. Naval Service vehicles are also equipped with limited capabilities and demonstrated them when the LE Eithne and Air Corps helped to salvage the Yarrawonga, the 85,000 tonne bulk carrier abandoned 170 miles off the west coast with 800 tonnes of fuel oil on board in January 1989."


                        15th Oct 2003..
                        Mr. Coveney: Does the Minister of State have information on the emergency towing vessel, which was promised a number of years ago?

                        Mr. Browne: In May 1998 an emergency towing vessel study was commissioned by the Government. The study was published in May 1999 and in May 2000 the Government agreed in principle to the recommendations of the study to provide an emergency towing vessel. A memorandum is being prepared for Government with a view to recommending the procurement of such a vessel for south west approaches and the Irish Sea


                        Gov't taking their time I see.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Shur whats the hurry,no ships have sunk..yet.



                          07/10/04
                          Three submarine crew members airlifted to hospital

                          By Dan Collins
                          THREE crew members of the crippled secondhand Canadian submarine drifting towards the Co Mayo coastline were airlifted to Sligo General Hospital last night.

                          One of the men was said to be in a critical condition following the fire which broke out on board the vessel on Tuesday as the former British navy diesel-powered sub was being sailed from Scotland to Halifax in Nova Scotia.

                          A spokeswoman for the hospital last night said: “The three men landed on the helicopter deck at the hospital almost an hour ago and were rushed in - one of them is in a critical conditions and the other two walked in. Doctors are seeing them just now.”

                          Irish air/sea rescue crews were on standby last night amid reports the skipper and crew of the HMCS Chicoutimi were preparing to abandon ship.




                          A naval vessel that responded to the mayday call was forced to return to Haulbowline after being hit by a freak wave.

                          The LE Róisín had to abandon its efforts to assist the HMCS Chicoutimi after it sustained damage to its hull.

                          A Navy spokesman said: “The naval ship suffered significant damage in heavy weather conditions. On completion of temporary repairs the ship will return to the Haulbowline.”


                          During last Saturday’s renaming ceremony in Faslane, Scotland, Canada’s Minister of National Defence Bill Graham said: “HMCS Chicoutimi’s handover to the Canadian Forces illustrates the progress we are making in establishing a modern submarine fleet that will serve Canadians extremely well for the next 25 years.”

                          The broken sub is the last of four Victoria Class submarines purchased at a cost of £244million from the British for Canada’s Navy under a deal agreed in 1998.

                          The submarine, with 57 crew on board, remained at the mercy of rough seas off the northwest coast of Mayo last night. The fire had knocked out its engines.

                          A British naval frigate and other Irish and British naval vessels were at the scene.


                          Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                          Comment


                          • #28


                            08/10/04
                            Tugs to tow submarine to safety

                            By Eddie Cassidy
                            TUGS last night connected towlines to the stricken Canadian submarine drifting for the past three days in waters off the west coast.

                            Rescuers began to tow the vessel, HMCS Chicoutimi, directly to Scotland last night after it sustained a fire and power loss on Tuesday.

                            Canadian sailor Lieutenant Chris Saunders, aged 32, a married father of two, died from smoke inhalation.

                            Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Mark Moher, yesterday visited Sligo General Hospital where two other crew members are still being treated.

                            The vessel, due to treacherous conditions, had drifted into the Irish coastguard’s search and rescue zone.

                            Irish naval service Commander Gerard O’Flynn said yesterday that north-west gales, which had been rocking the vessel to and fro, had eased.




                            “It is expected that the sub will proceed directly to Scotland,” he said. A total of 54 crew are still aboard the vessel.

                            Cmdr O’Flynn said the sub yesterday recovered some of its power functions, hydraulic and electrical systems, but it did not have full propulsion.

                            The LÉ Aoife, providing communications and logistical support at the scene, was working in co-operation with the British and Canadian authorities.

                            Cmdr Andy Webb of the British Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose, which was also at the scene, said everything possible was being done to reach the remaining crew despite treacherous conditions.

                            “Our priority remains the safety of the crew. We are in constant dialogue with them and they are in great spirits,” he said. “There is no immediate risk but the situation is still serious.”

                            Weather permitting, the sub is expected to be towed into Faslane in Scotland by Sunday.

                            Meanwhile, one of the two remaining hospitalised sailors was transferred to intensive care yesterday. However, the hospital’s medical consultant Dr Joe McKenna said he was happy with the men’s progress. Both are conscious.

                            The sailors were among nine casualties who suffered smoke inhalation after a blaze broke out on the sub, 100 miles off the west coast.

                            The sub was on its way to Nova Scotia from a Royal Navy base on the Clyde after being sold by Britain.


                            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              A summary of this crafts history can be found below

                              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Chicoutimi_(SS_879)


                              Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Do the RN know something the rest of us don't?



                                Ships at the scene, in addition to the tug and submarine, include: HMS Montrose, acting as incident command post; RFA Argus, which has helicopters onboard and the capability to accept more; MV Carolyn Chouest, a US submarine support ship; and an Irish coastguard ship, LE Aoife, acting as on-scene co-ordinator, given that the operation is for the moment taking place off the coast of the Irish Republic.

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