HMS Nottingham (D91): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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===2002 Grounding===

[[File:HMS Nottingham, Type 42 Destroyer MOD 45147651.jpg|thumb|left|HMS ''Nottingham'' at sea]]

On 7 July 2002, ''Nottingham'' ran aground on the submerged but well-charted [[Wolf Rock, Lord Howe Island|Wolf Rock]] near [[Lord Howe Island]], {{convert|370|mi|km}} off the coast of [[Australia]] causing £26&nbsp;million worth of damage.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeffery|first1=Simon|title=Officers court martialled for grounding destroyer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/12/military.simonjeffery|access-date=25 August 2017|work=The Guardian|date=12 September 2003}}</ref> A {{convert|160|ft|m|adj=mid}} hole was torn down the side of the vessel from bow to bridge, flooding five of her compartments and nearly causing her to sink. A major PR crisis for the Royal Navy, the incident was initially PR managed by Commander David Heley (who looked after the UK and New Zealand media) and Lieutenant Commander Steve Tatham (who provided daily commentary to Australian media) before a team was despatched to Australia to assist the ship.HMNZS Te Mana and HMNZS Endeavor, liased with the RN Vessellvessel and provided relief for the crew for approx 2-3 weeks.

The accident happened in poor weather<ref>{{cite news|title=Inquiry into warship accident|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2115229.stm|access-date=25 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=8 July 2002}}</ref> after a set of manoeuvres to allow a sailor with an emergency medical condition to be evacuated to Lord Howe Island. The captain, Commander Richard Farrington, had been ashore having dinner with the island's marine services manager thanking him for the assistance rendered to his crewman. Farrington had just returned and at the time of the incident, XO Lt Commander John Lea, was in-charge of the vessel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Payne|first1=Stewart|title=Shipwrecked destroyer's officers punished|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1441250/Shipwrecked-destroyers-officers-punished.html|access-date=25 August 2017|work=The Telegraph|date=12 September 2003|language=en}}</ref> ''Nottingham'' ran aground on Wolf Rock owing to a navigational error and the vessel immediately went into damage control mode. Commander Farrington returned to the bridge whereby he took command and controlled the breached compartments.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Judd|first1=Terri|title=Commander supped tea as his destroyer headed for catastrophe|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/commander-supped-tea-as-his-destroyer-headed-for-catastrophe-86540.html|access-date=25 August 2017|work=The Independent|date=12 September 2003}}</ref>