In September 2023, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and other emergency medical teams rushed to Kommetjie in Cape Town after naval personnel encountered difficulties in the water during a routine exercise drill, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Also read: Kommetjie resident witnessed SA Navy submarine tragedy
At the time, preliminary reports indicated that two individuals were washed out to sea after a freak wave struck the SAS Manthatisi submarine.
It was later confirmed that three people – 33-year-old Lieutenant-Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector, Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa (48) and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela (43) – lost their lives due to the impact of a ‘huge wave’ on the vessel.
‘It was just the submarine was at the right place at the wrong time when Mother Nature had the final word,’ said Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese, South African Navy chief on Friday when he revealed the outcomes of an investigation into the death of the three mariners.
‘The weather on the day was manageable and the vertical transfer (Vertrep) had previously been completed in comparable to worse weather circumstances. The Vertrep was approved by the Officer Commanding of the submarine and helicopter,’ he added.
Vertrep is a naval replenishment operation used to deliver cargo to ships via helicopter.
However, the exercise was called off as both parties could not get two members onto the casing (of the submarine). News24 reports the members were then hoisted back into the helicopter.
‘Just as everyone was about to get back into the submarine, the sea conditions changed abruptly, resulting in unexpected freak waves,’ Lobese said.
The case party, which included Hector, Mathipa, Mojela and another mariner, LS Sosibo, were swept into the sea while still attached to their safety lines.
Hector bumped her head against the submarine’s hull, which rendered her unconscious.
‘With the assistance of the safety swimmer, everyone managed to get back onto the casing. The XO [Hector] was resuscitated and started to breathe. Everyone was fine, Warrant Officer Mathipa and Mojela unclipped their safety lines to go back into the submarine.’
He said while they were making their way back to the submarine, a strange wave carried them all over the edge, with only Hector still connected to the safety line.
‘At this stage, members of the crew came to assist their comrades. As they were pulling them out, another freak wave hit, washing them away and dispersing them.’
After this, the crew managed to recover Hector and the Ops Medic attended to her in the submarine. The other mariners were rescued by the NSRI.
At this time, Mathipa and Mojela could not be resuscitated.
‘The severity and force of the freak waves, the foul weather gear that becomes heavy when wet, and the movement of the boat pushing the members to and fro in the cold sea conditions took its toll on the members. It drained their energy to such an extent that they could only float and wait to be rescued,’ Lobese said, adding that the outcome would not have been different even if all the lessons learnt had been implemented and all corrective action taken.
‘Our submariners are highly trained and we have full confidence in the entire crew, especially our departed heroes and the heroine’s qualifications and know-how of what was expected of them.’
He added that the sailors were heroes who followed the Code of Conduct for Uniformed Members ‘to the letter’ and who carried out their mission with ‘courage and assisting their comrades in arms, even at the risk of their own lives’.
The investigation found that their life jackets were the standard – up to 12kg. ‘We have realised that the safety line is not conducive to carrying a lot of members at the same time. The line to the safety harness was too long,’ Lobese said.
‘The doctrine does not specify the length of the line in different evolutions. It also never required for the casing party to wear safety head gear.’
The life jackets have since been upgraded to handle 270kg and the safety line has been strengthened to support five people at the same time without stretching.
‘It will also be reduced to ensure that members will not be submerged when slipping from the casing. The specification in the length of the line in different evolutions comes with experience,’ he added.
‘Since the doctrine never required the casing party to wear safety headgear, this requirement is now included as part of the gear once you step on the casing.
‘With the Man over Board exercises, the doctrine did not provide for a Man over Board locator beacon. This will now become part of the doctrine. We will also ensure that the rescue man that is utilised on the submarine is not only conversant with water but also [needs to] be a strong swimmer.
‘All of the above is part of the procurement package that has already been submitted. The Standing Operating Procedures are also being revised to be improved, where necessary.’
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Navy chief upholds exceptional team, attributes tragedy to natural forces
Picture: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images
