A ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force vessel, the HMBS Rolly Gray, sustained damage in an accident on Tuesday.
The ship, captained by Lieutenant Commander Granville Adderley, ran aground near Ragged Island.
RBDF Commodore Tellis Bethel confirmed the accident to The Tribune yesterday.
“The Rolly Gray had an unfortunate incident several days ago,” Commodore Bethel said. “She sustained damage to her propellers (on) Tuesday past.
“There (are) currently underway arrangements being made for her to have an assessment to determine the extent of the damage and the timeline for repairs.”
Commodore Bethel dismissed a report in a local tabloid which priced the cost of the damage at $2million, saying there is no way to know until an assessment is done.
“There is no way to determine what the cost will be until an assessment has been carried out by one of the local shipyards,” he said. “However, the vessel is insured.”
Commodore Bethel added he expects the estimates for the Rolly Gray will be available in a “few days”.
In November 2017, another RBDF vessel, the HMBS Arthur Hanna, was involved in a similar accident.
When asked about that incident, Commodore Bethel said: “What normally happens is after there is a grounding, there is a board of inquiry that is convened where evidence is provided as to what actually took place.
“And then once that investigation is completed, recommendations are provided by the board and determination made as to what will happen with respect to the commanding officer as well as how the standard of operations will be affected.”
However, the estimates for the damage to HMBS Arthur Hanna are still unavailable. Commodore Bethel said: “The assessment has begun by the local shipyard and we’re still waiting on the final cost for that one.”
The HMBS Rolly Gray was commissioned in Exuma in April 2015. It was the fourth Damen Stan Patrol 4207 vessel to be commissioned, following the HMBS Arthur Hanna, HMBS Durward Knowles and HMBS Leon Smith. These vessels are 138 feet in length with eight-foot draft.
The Rolly Gray was named after the legendary Bahamian sailor Captain Rolly Gray (1922-2008).
Captain Gray became a captain at the age of 18 and received numerous awards for his participation in sailing. In 2007, he was an inductee on the ‘Wall of Fame’ at the Lynden Pindling International Airport by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
Comments
hrysippus 6 years, 9 months ago
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force,.............. .... Seems to have trouble setting a course, ....... .. .... A course to avoid hitting rock, cay or reef, ..... .. ... .... To prevent their propellers coming to grief, .... ... .. Ragged Islands the one that causes most pain, . ... ... It seems to get hit again and again, . .......... .. .... ... It will take several million to fix up this boat, . ... ... To patch up her bottom and keep her afloat, ............ .. .... Handheld GPS doesn't cost very much, . .. .... Then we wouldn't be having to bother the Dutch, ......... . I'm thinking these Dutch build a very nice craft, .. .... But for patrolling the Banks they've got too much draft, ......... ... Combine that with a slack skipper and crew, ........... ...... ... And we end up with a troublesome brew.
Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago
These fellas really determined to get all of these boats ($200 million worth) out of operation. One could wonder if it is intentional.
These captains really need some (more?) training!
DDK 6 years, 9 months ago
Sickening, isn't it?
cx 6 years, 9 months ago
Isn't that like 3 of 9 boats out of commission. Did they ever repair that one from 1 1/2 yr ago that ram the poachers?
sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago
Sooooooo, do these boats not have the ability to check the depth of water and not hit a shoal or reef ????? .......... Or did the captain run over a small boat??????? ............ Or did the boat get entangled in a fishing net??? ........... Why the secrecy??????????
What in the hell is this with messing up these valuable national assets????????
DEDDIE 6 years, 9 months ago
The boats were a dumb idea considering that 80% of the Bahamas is too shallow for them to maneuver in. Small planes are a better idea for patrolling and once a suspected boat is spotted a go fast vessel can be dispatch to intercept.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago
Agreed. We could buy far more air assets with half of the $200 million. Not smart to just buy boats to cover 100,000 sq.miles.
bobneville 6 years, 6 months ago
remember,the captain of these ships do not have to be defense force officers they can be hired by the goverment,or the fource this way you can hire experienced people,it will save the people millions of dollars you can find experience captains locally or you can bring them in from one of the commonwealth countries,please offer them a good salary,remember if you offer peanuts you will attract monkeys.
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