Australia’s latest warship, HMAS Stalwart, breaks down and undergoes emergency mechanical repairs

Australia’s latest warship is present process emergency mechanical repairs to deal with ‘engine faults’, whereas the Navy’s solely different ship stays out of service.

The ABC can reveal that HMAS Stalwart, which entered service lower than three years in the past, has prolonged a port go to to Darwin whereas the Ministry of Protection investigates the extent of issues on board.

HMAS Stalwart is the second and closing auxiliary ship refit (AOR) ship in-built Spain for the Royal Australian Navy, and is meant to hold gas, ammunition and different provides for deployed fight forces, in addition to present logistics.

Final 12 months, the ABC revealed main mechanical issues had additionally been found aboard its sister ship, HMAS Provide, which had been transferred to Backyard Island Naval Base in Sydney for guarantee restore.

Throughout a Senate listening to earlier this month, senior Navy figures revealed that HMAS Provide might stay out of service for an additional 12 months regardless of already being sidelined for 14 months.

Deputy Commander of the Navy, Admiral Mark Hammond, stated in response to a query in regards to the AOR ship constructed by the Spanish firm Navantia, “I don’t want the committee to get the unsuitable thought. I’m not happy with the supply of this ship.”

“This can be a complicated defect,” the Navy chief confirmed throughout his testimony on June 6. “Navantia has written to the ministry to take duty, and it is going to be repaired beneath guarantee.”

Following questions from the ABC this week, the MoD has now confirmed that HMAS Stalwart, which was commissioned seven months after the HMAS was provided in November 2021, can be experiencing issues with its engine.

A Ministry of Protection spokesperson advised the ABC: “HMAS Stalwart has prolonged a port go to to Darwin to research engine faults that occurred through the passage to Darwin. The crew is supported by contractors.”

“The extent and cause for the required reforms are beneath investigation,” the spokesman added.

Protection figures accustomed to the state of affairs declare that HMAS Stalwart faces “monumental engineering issues” and could possibly be in “poor situation” like HMAS Provide.

“It should endure emergency repairs to permit it to return to its house port of Perth,” one protection supply advised the ABC, talking on situation of anonymity.

Spain’s Navantia is one in every of a number of worldwide protection firms chosen to produce Australia’s new $7-$10 billion fleet of basic function frigates for the Navy.

The Spanish shipbuilder had beforehand provided the Navy’s three Hobart-class air warfare destroyers, in addition to two Canberra-class helicopter berths, which additionally had long-term issues with their propulsion programs.

Final 12 months, the ABC additionally revealed that sailors working aboard HMAS Provide and HMAS Stalwart have been pressured to drink bottled water after a contamination drawback linked to the ships’ plumbing was found.