A Royal Navy minesweeper has been damaged after it crashed while trying to dock at a naval base in Bahrian.
HMS Chiddingfold was being docked by Lieutenant Commander Simon Reeves when it twice struck another warship causing damage to its plastic hull.
The Hunt-class mine hunter suffered approximately £100,000 of damage and will take several months to repair.
HMS Chiddingfold, pictured, was damaged while its captain was trying to dock the vessel in Bahrain
Lieutenant Commander Simon Reeves, pictured, was commanding Chiddingfold when it struck HMS Penzance
Lt Cdr Reeves took command of the 200ft vessel which was launched in October 1983 last month. The incident happened on his first attempt to dock the vessel after dark.
Royal Navy captain smashes hole in warship after trying to dock it in the dark
Lieutenant Commander Simon Reeves crashed his warship twice into another vessel while trying to dock in the dark, causing a hole to be smashed through the HMS Chiddingfold
Updated
The warship, nicknamed Cheery Chid will cost £100,000 to repair (Image: HMS Chiddingfold/Twitter)
The Daily Star s FREE newsletter is spectacular! Sign up today for the best stories straight to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up today!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Subscription Notification
We have noticed that there is an issue with your subscription billing details. Please update your billing details here
Please update your billing information
The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. Please update your billing details here to continue enjoying your subscription.
Your subscription will end shortly
Please update your billing details here to continue enjoying your access to the most informative and considered journalism in the UK.
Although it was the captain’s first night-time operation in the Gulf, it is understood that other factors caused the collision.
“While this manoeuvre had been practised several times back in the UK there were other issues such as the tide, wind conditions, as well as potentially a minor technical issue that contributed significantly,” a Royal Navy source said.
“The understanding is that the captain will not be found at fault.”
The Navy confirmed that the damage would cost an estimated £100,000 because the anti-mine fibreglass structure used on the minesweeper’s hulls needed specialist attention.
The incident would not have an impact on operations, the Navy source said.
Два корабля ВМС Британии дважды столкнулись на базе в Бахрейне regnum.ru - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from regnum.ru Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.