The HMBS Arthur D Hanna, which sustained damage to its port shaft and gearbox in November 2017, cost approximately $1.5m to repair.
By LETRE SWEETING
Tribune Staff Reporter
lsweeting@tribunemedia.net
A REPLACEMENT for the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna vessel is underway, with several shipyard companies lined up for consideration for the development of the new eco-friendly vessel, according to National Security Minister Wayne Munroe.
During his contribution in Parliament yesterday, Mr Munroe mentioned progress made for the replacement of HMBS AD Hanna, which he revealed in his last Budget presentation. He said there are three companies being considered to be responsible for the project.
“I wish to report, lest people believe that we’re not moving with sufficient aplomb to do that, that there are three drawings, one from an Indian shipyard, one from an Israeli shipyard, and one Damen (Shipyard Group — a Dutch defence, shipbuilding, and engineering conglomerate) that the Defence Force has evaluated and will present shortly. And we will then proceed to make a choice.”
It was revealed in April 2018 that the cost of repairing HMBS Arthur Dion Hanna, which sustained damage to its port shaft and gear box in November 2017, was $1.5m.
Mr Munroe said the new HMBS AD Hanna will be an eco-friendly vessel, pointing to a visit from the US Secretary of the Navy as a reason for this choice.
“Carlos Del Toro made a commitment that the US Navy and the US Marine Corps, are acquiring vessels and outfitting bases that are eco-friendly. The Prime Minister being such a champion for climate, Secretary Del Toro quoted him and so it’s only appropriate that the new flagship of our fleet be eco-friendly and it will.”
He added: “Just in case people don’t understand our commitment to giving the Defence Force, the tools it needs, when there was a delay in finalising it so that the money in last year’s budget, allotted for it, weren’t spent, we got the Defence Force four new safe boats. That is four at 41ft with the trailers and the associated vehicles.”
While Mr Munroe did not mention the specific amount allocated to the replacement of the vessel, he did pledge that his ministry would ensure the Royal Bahamas Defence Force has the tools it needs to “guard our heritage”, while mentioning several other new additions expected for the force.
“Their record of interdiction of vessels coming into this country speaks for itself. And that’s only with the two coastal radars installed. The radars for Exuma and Ragged Island are here. Next Budget year we expect to get two more.
“We continue to equip the Royal Bahamas Defence Force to meet the mandate of the National Security Strategy. It is also intended for there to be upgrades on HMBS Coral Harbour, for there to be a buildout in Ragged Island where the Defence Force intends to station its aircraft for reconnaissance. This is so we are no longer dependent on the US Coast Guard as much as we are.”
Mr Munroe continued: “It is their intention to convert the container base — they live in containers at HMBS Gunpoint— into a proper base. In decentralisation, they intend to set up a proper base in Grand Bahama
“Abaco would tell you there’s a need for a small boat unit in Abaco and the Defence Force has proposed to do just that. And so they are in fact, listening and we are responding,” he said.
Comments
ExposedU2C 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Why do we still need to keep footing bills for a defense force with all of the rumours floating around in recent years that the last Christie-led PLP government signed in Beijing some kind of a special diplomatic agreement with the PRC, i.e., the CCP, whereby their military, better known as the PLA, would have access to all our air space and territorial waters for the next 30 years in exchange for, among other things, the defense of our country from other sovereign states, inclluding even the U.S. ?!
themessenger 10 months, 3 weeks ago
HMBS A D Hanna, P421, was commissioned into service in June of 2014 as the first delivery of Operation Sandy Bottom refurbishment of the defense force fleet and at considerable expense to the country. At only nine years old these vessels can hardly be described as obsolete so is the government proposing to write off the A D Hanna and her sister ships which cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions just ten years ago in favor of the new flavored eco friendly vessels on offer, and at what cost? The manner in which our law enforcement agencies in this country look after their assets is nothing less than deplorable, the RBPF patrol cars a typical case in point, and wasn’t the former Prime Minister known to have instructed the Commodore of the Defense Force to instruct his officers to “stop mashing up our boats!” The amount of waste in the public sector could never stand the light of day in private industry,SMT!
ThisIsOurs 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Patrols car are in a different category. They travel at high speed with a very high risk of running into any number of objects. Ships dont have the same risk under a skilled navigator.
They could probably reduce patrol car damage if they used technology, but the way things go in this country, someone who knows nothing about tech but has a nice suit and knows someone, will get the contract amd provide a system that produces something but doesnt have the impact it should.
Training and risk management is the only way to prevent ship damage... well there was that RBDF vessel that was rammed, on dry dock, by a South American vessel a few months after a South American woman claimed she was raped at the detention center... so there's that
Dawes 10 months, 2 weeks ago
"Ships dont have the same risk under a skilled navigator." think i've found the issue for the boats.
ThisIsOurs 10 months, 2 weeks ago
I missed one other risk for boats, poachers/smugglers. Then they cost more to fix... so yes maintenance planning is an issue
themessenger 10 months, 2 weeks ago
If poachers or smugglers can overwhelm a large Defense force vessel, a heavily armed war ship equipped with an automatic quick firing cannon & machine guns, crewed by trained and armed marines then the Defense Force should truly be disbanded.
cx 10 months, 2 weeks ago
1.5mil Doesn't seem like a lot to repair a 14mil ship. A new similar ship is probably 15 mil +
Dawes 10 months, 2 weeks ago
Wow, it would probably be better to scrap the RBDF if they can't even manage to get a boat to last longer then 9 years. This has to be a money grab. Fully expect to see the same garbage about environmentally friendly being used so they can go on a asset building spree.
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