CRFMF RECALLS KULA OPS DURING DECOMMISSIONING EVENT

The Fiji Navy Squadron last week de commissioned the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship (RFNS) Kula after 25 years of her service in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF). The decommissioning event which was held on the 20^th of December 2019 at the Stanley Brown Naval Base witnessed the presence of the Commander RFMF Rear-Admiral (RADM) Viliame Naupoto, Navy Officers, men and women of the Fiji Navy and ex-servicemen who had also served in the Navy.

Speaking during the event, RADM Naupoto reminisced on a situation in 1994 when he was the commanding officer for the RFNS Kula to a search and rescue mission of two sisters from Vanuavatu in Lau who were believed to have been swept away on their punt to the middle of the ocean. RADM Naupoto mentioned that on that same day he was looking forward to the opening of the Fiji Navy Headquarters event when he was surprised to have been called on the situation at hand.

“ I had no idea that I was going to be part of that milestone that the Fiji Navy was about to achieve that morning, but hundreds of miles away battling the mighty forces of nature were two Vanuavatu sisters tgat we had to save. At about nine’ o clock that morning I was called into the operation room…I was briefed that the Kula had to respond to a search and rescue mission in the Lau waters. We created a scene as we steamed of the Suva harbour travelling 18 knots.”

RADM Naupoto mentioned that the search and rescue mission was quite complex because of the unfavourable weather condition they had encountered. He said that as they reached the most likely location, they reduced speed and switched on all their search lights with the hope of finding the two sisters.

“My orders to the duty watch was that if the two girls were sited that night avoiding actions were suppose to be taken, making sure that we did not hit them. I could not sleep that night as every time a wave smashed on to the hull of the ship my heart sank as I told myself…we have just killed them. When I asked them later when they were found if they saw us, they said that we nearly steamed over them three times, the invisible hand of God was definitely around those two girls that night.”

After day break and hours of fruitless search, RADM Naupoto said that the adverse weather condition had forced him to send a message back to the Navy operations requesting an aircraft to assist in the search as it would definitely cover more areas very quickly compared to them.

Moments later, a French guardian aircraft based in Noumea (New Caledonia) acknowledged the message and later flew over the Kula to begin its search.

“The sound of the aircraft engine and the sight of the aircraft as it turned into its search pattern greeted the weary but confident crew and renewed our hope that this search and rescue mission was going to be a successful one.”

Few moments after the arrival of the aircraft, a report was given to RADM Naupoto from the aircraft stating that they have sighted a punt just 100 meters from the Kula with two personnel on board, one was said to be alive while the other was unsure. RADM Naupoto stated that the rescue part of the operation was quite difficult as it involved a lot of manoeuvring to ensure that the Kula does not smash onto the punt, and in this time the weather was still ruthless.

“The sight of this two girls on a wooden punt against the backdrop of huge waves threatening to swamp over them is a sight I will never forget I recalled as we steamed closer that the chattering and laughter that flavoured the atmosphere on the bridge as we approached the punt all of a sudden disappeared and was replaced by silence and for most of us a tear or two to our eyes, you just could not help but feel the ordeal that this two young girls were going through.”

“The searching part of the mission was over and now we had to execute the second half, the rescue. The weather was not on our side and we could not position Kula closer to the drifting punt as there was a high risk of the punt getting smashed against the side of the ship. The only way was to launch our own sea boat, transfer the girls into the sea boat and hoist them into the Kula however the problem though was that the sea state was way beyond the safe working condition of launching the sea boat.”

RADM Naupoto said that as he was contemplating the next move he could see that one of the girls was pointing to the Kula and was perhaps encouraging her sister who was lying down to remain strong as help was nearby. Quickly RADM Naupoto called his executive officer Sub-lieutenant Kean (Commissioner Prisons) and all personnel on deck and briefed them on the situation, highlighting that safety must be considered at all times and allocated tasking to the crew.

The sea state was so devastating that it forced RADM Naupoto to steer the Kula at 8 knots to allow control on the motion of the ship, stopping the ship was not an option as it will drift the ship away from the punt and would cause an issue if they deployed the sea boat. The repercussion of that would be the sea boat smashing against the Kula or even worse smashing the crew.

“We tried launching up wind but without success…I then maneuverer downwind and we managed to lower the sea boat but before we could get the boat crew onto it a hugh swell pushed both the Kula and the sea boat forward at such speed. The sea boat being the lighter was propelled forward with force that it tore itself away from the ship side snapping all the lines that were holding it in place.”

“We had no other choice but to let the sea boat free as there was a danger of it getting swamped and dragged under the ship and into the spinning propellers. I then manoeuvred the ship back closer to the drifting sea-boat where Petty Officer Vodo and Petty Officer Rokovino donned life jackets and jumped overboard into the rough sea, swam to the sea boat, started the outboard engine and travelled towards the two girls.”

The two girls were safely transported to the Kula where they were given medical attention, dry clothes, fresh food and a cup each of hot Kula milo.

“As I stood and watched the Ambulance leave the naval base with the two girls inside, I knew like in time and tide one of the best moments in my naval career had just passed, never to return. But the memories will remain with me for the rest of life.”

This is one of the many success story of the RFNS Kula and her crew past 25 years of service. As she retires from service this evening …I say Bravo Zulu to you RFNS Kula and to all who sailed with her.” RADM Naupoto concluded.

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