Skipper of crash destroyer had just arrived on board - report
The skipper of the crippled destroyer HMS Nottingham flew on board his £300m (€467m) only three minutes before it crashed into rocks off Australia, it was reported tonight.
Commander Richard Farrington had been ashore on Lord Howe Island and returned to the ship by helicopter just before the Nottingham hit Wolfe Rock, ripping holes in its forward hull, said the Sydney Morning Herald.
He ran to the bridge and took charge, ordering the engines full speed astern, which pulled the destroyer off the rocks said the newspaper.
The Herald said the bridge watch - responsible for steering the ship safely on its course - was under the command of a lieutenant at the time of the crash.
Commander Farrington today refused to discuss any aspects of his ship’s command, saying an investigation on board had begun. .
He would not say who had set the course that took the Nottingham close to Wolfe Rock. Usually, ships give a wide berth to navigation hazards, especially in bad weather.
Commander Farrington was ashore when the Nottingham sailed. He was the guest of Clive Wilson, port operations manager and navy agent for Lord Howe.
Mr Wilson said they had a ‘‘cuppa and a chat’’. He does not drink nor serve alcohol.
About 9.30pm the Nottingham left its anchorage, where it was sheltered from southerly winds, heading on a bearing which took it past Wolfe Rock, three nautical miles to the south-east.
Soon after, Mr Wilson drove Commander Farrington a few miles to the airport, where he was picked up by the Nottingham’s helicopter.
The destroyer slowed to 10 knots to land its captain back on board in bad weather at 9.55pm. At that time, the Nottingham was past the protection of Lord Howe and was receiving the full blast of the winds.
Three minutes after he landed, Commander Farrington was below deck and heading to the bridge when the ship struck, said the newspaper.
Salvage experts today arrived at Lord Howe Island to decide how and where to repair the destroyer.
Locals on the World Heritage-listed island 200 miles north east of Sydney said the Nottingham was the first ship to hit the rock since a British whaler - the Wolf - about 200 years ago.
