Professional Skipper - Free Sample issue (July/Aug 2011)

BY KEITH INGRAM W hen the world appears to be in a turmoil and Mother Nature remains uncertain about whom she will smack around the ears next, it is nice to hear of success stories evolving from so much tragedy. From volcanos to tsunamis, preceded in most cases by significant earthquakes, the Ol' Lady has certainly been stomping her feet to get our attention. We must all be hard of hearing, because she just keeps on stomping in the Canterbury region, to the level where the colloquial name "Shaky Isles" is no longer a joke as the patience of the local community runs low. Who would have thought that when the Royal New Zealand Navy's new multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury was commissioned into service to provide disaster relief in the South Pacific as part of her duties, she would return to her home port to offer this very same relief in Christchurch's hour of need. In a quirky sort of way it's a bit ironic, considering all the criticism from the armchair admirals who spoke during her construction and sea trials of a grey elephant, and a disaster waiting to happen. We now know this great, grey beast is receiving a quiet nod of approval for a task well done. Yes, some operational faults still need to be worked around, but when it comes to capacity and real estate to transport and then play base for the large compliment of troops, their equipment plus all the supporting cargo, she is not at all bad. It was indeed fortuitous the Canterbury was in harbour at y the time of the February earthquake. She had just arrived from Napier, where she embarked New Zealand Army personnel and vehicles for a joint forces operation, Torque Wrench. By a twist of fate, while they were in Napier, Canterbury and her company y 18 Professional Skipper July/August 2011 r Our Navy arrives in force to lend assistance participated in the 80th anniversary of the Napier earthquake, with her commanding officer, Commander Jim Gilmour, ringing the Veronica Bell to signify the time of the quake. Once personnel and equipment were on board, she made passage to Lyttelton to embark additional Army vehicles, equipment and personnel in preparation for Exercise Southern Katipo. It was intended that Canterbury would be alongsidey at Lyttelton for two to three hours in order to embark the final troops before continuing to Timaru and the exercise. It became clear early on that the "ramp window" influenced by tide and trim was very short and as it transpired, five LAVs were still to be loaded when the window closed on February 22 at midday. Crane operations began shortly afterward and it was at 1251, while the second of the LAVs was being placed into the vehicle deck, that the ship began to shake violently as the first of what would become many more earth tremors hit the region, inflicting severe damage and loss of life. The immediate perception from the bridge was that the cause of the violent shaking might be something internal, such as a major crane control malfunction or a catastrophic machinery failure within the engineering compartments, for example. As the amplitude of the vibrations increased, associated with a loud and rapid slamming sound through the hull, the officers on watch reported the view for'ard into the town of Lyttelton

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