Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Monde Lobese has made public the findings of the Board of Inquiry (BOI) investigating the unfortunate deaths of three submariners during a routine drill off the coast of Kommetjie, Cape Town.
On September 20, 2023, Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, Master Warrant Officer William Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Lucas Mojela lost their lives in an accident.
"These brave sailors unfortunately died at sea as they were swept many times by heavy seas while conducting a vertical transfer involving a helicopter and the SAS Manthatisi submarine. We send our heartfelt sympathies to the families touched by this tragic catastrophe." Lobese said.
The accident occurred while the crew of SAS Manthatisi, one of the South African Navy's treasured submarines, was conducting a VERTEP (Vertical Replenishment) exercise with a South African Air Force (SAAF) Maritime Lynx helicopter.
The BOI revealed that the meteorological conditions, which were tolerable at initially, suddenly became worse, resulting in freak waves that led to the fatal incident.
Lobese revealed that the VERTEP exercise had initially gone well. The submarine's operations staff, led by a former Submarine Captain, had cleared the vessel for the drill, which had previously taken place under similar conditions.
However, when attempting to finalise the VERTEP, the team was forced to call off the operation due to unpredictability in sea conditions.
"Just as everyone was about to get back into the submarine, the sea conditions changed abruptly, resulting in a freak wave that swept several crew members into the water," Lobese said.
The first wave slammed the three sailors while they were still linked to safety ropes. Unfortunately, as they tried to climb back on board, a second, even more powerful wave broke their grip and swept them away.
The Board of Inquiry report described a chaotic fight as the remaining crew members and rescue crews attempted to locate the sailors.
The submarine's executive officer, Lt Commander Hector, was rescued after being discovered unconscious, but Mathipa and Mojela were sadly lost at sea.
"The severity and force of the waves, along with the cold sea conditions, drained the sailors' energy, leaving them unable to fight the powerful currents," Lobese said. Despite the brave efforts of the Ops Medic and rescue team, the harsh weather and high waves were too much.
Important concerns have been identified in the BOI's findings, particularly in relation to the life jackets utilised throughout the exercise. The normal life jackets, which were meant for weights up to 120kg, proved insufficient for the tough sea conditions that day.
Furthermore, ongoing budget constraints that affect the availability of maintenance for platforms and vessels were identified as contributory issues, restricting vital training chances for personnel.
The Navy pledged to address these concerns and protect the safety of its personnel throughout future operations. Lobese highlighted the importance of better equipment and more frequent training sessions to help crews prepare for unforeseen sea conditions.
“Our sailors are eager to undertake training, but platform non-availability and budget constraints limit their opportunities," Lobese said.
As the Navy mourns the death of these devoted submariners, they pledge to honour their legacy by implementing the necessary adjustments to protect those who continue to serve.
The Navy has already begun to proceed with several of the Board of Inquiry's recommendations, such as examining the safety equipment used on board and boosting the frequency of training to ensure crews are adequately prepared for extreme situations.
Lobese closed his address by thanking the families of the fallen sailors for their patience and fortitude during this trying time.
"We honour their sacrifice and will continue to do everything in our power to ensure such a tragedy never happens again," he said.
IOL