RSS Courageous
Sister ship RSS Dauntless (99)
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History | |
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Singapore | |
Name | RSS Courageous |
Builder | ST Engineering (Marine) |
Launched | 9 September 1995 |
Commissioned | 5 October 1996 |
Identification | Pennant number: 96 |
Fate |
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General characteristics | |
Class and type | patrol vessel |
Displacement | 500 t (490 long tons; 550 short tons) |
Length | 55.0 m (180 ft 5 in) |
Beam | 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in) |
Draught | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
Propulsion | 2× Kamewa Waterjets |
Speed | In excess of 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Range | 1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
Sensors and processing systems |
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Electronic warfare & decoys |
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Armament |
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RSS Courageous (96) was a
Collision
RSS Courageous was on patrol off the waters of Pedra Branca on 3 January 2003 and was travelling on the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme when she made a turn against the flow of shipping at 2325 hrs local time. A collision with ANL Indonesia subsequently took place at 2335 hrs.
A large-scale search-and-rescue operation was conducted 3–15 January by the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Police Coast Guard and Police and naval units from Indonesia.
Four female sailors were at the
The body of 2SG Chua Bee Lin was never found. Her body was originally believed to have been lodged in the stern of the patrol boat which broke off following the collision and sank on the seabed. A salvage team from Smit International successfully lifted the wreckage on 14 January 2003[4] but her body was not found.
Aftermath
In the investigation report released on 4 April 2003
The findings of the investigations concluded three key errors of judgment that resulted in the collision:
- The initial alteration of course against the flow of shipping which technically contravened rule 10(b)(i) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and increased the risk of collision.
- The decision to cross the bow of ANL Indonesia by RSS Courageous which contravened Rule 14 (a) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
- The subsequent minor alternations of course to port by RSS Courageous which was unclear to ANL Indonesia.
The two officers were subsequently charged in court under Section 304A
Six officers from the Singapore
Casualties
- Dead
- 1st Sergeant Seah Ai Leng
- 1st Sergeant Heng Sock Ling
- Corporal Goh Hui Ling
- Missing (Presumed Dead)
- 2nd Sergeant Chua Bee Lin
References
- ^ Collision at Sea : Body Found at Bintan Lagoon Resort Identified to be 1SG Heng Sock Ling. Retrieved on the 20 September 2008 Archived 28 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Collision at Sea : Body Found at Sebong Identified to be 1SG Seah Ai Leng. Retrieved on the 20 September 2008 Archived 28 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Third dead female officer found". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ Collision at Sea : Aft of RSS Courageous Successfully Lifted from Seabed. Retrieved on the 20 September 2008 Archived 28 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ FINDINGS OF THE MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE (MPA)'S INQUIRY INTO THE COLLISION BETWEEN ANL INDONESIA AND RSS COURAGEOUS Archived 25 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved:2008-09-20
- ^ The "RSS Courageous" NG Keng Yong v Public Prosecutor Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved:2008-09-20
- ^ "Police Medal of Valour for Rescue Efforts of RSS Courageous". National Archives of Singapore. Retrieved 31 January 2021.