Human error 'a factor' in warship mishap

HMS Nottingham is equipped with state of the art navigational aids

SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- The commander of a British warship which ran into rocks off the Australian east coast has conceded that some level of human error was probably involved in causing the accident.

Britain's Royal Navy has confirmed it will launch an inquiry into why HMS Nottingham, a destroyer, struck Wolf Rocks, two nautical miles (3.7 kilometers) east of Lord Howe Island, 320 km (200 miles) northeast of Sydney, on Sunday.

Speaking about the incident for the first time on Monday, Commander Richard Farringdon did not elaborate on the reasons for the mishap but said that his crew's quick response saved the 3,500-ton ship from sinking.

Farringdon, who has been in command of HMS Nottingham for less than two years, said the accident occurred after the ship came in close to shore to ferry a sick crewman by helicopter. The ship hit the rocks as the helicopter was being put into its hangar.

He said he knew there was an emergency when he felt the ship shudder.

The 22-year-old Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer, equipped with state of the art navigational aids, had been returning from deployment in the Far East and Australasia when the accident happened.

The ship is now anchored at Lord Howe Island's Middle Beach where a team of divers, assisted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), are assessing the extent of damage to the ship's hull before a decision can be made on whether interim repairs are carried out immediately, or the vessel is moved to a major port in the region.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Monday that an over-flight confirmed a light diesel sheen across the waters but no major oil spill in the World Heritage-listed zone.

An oil spill from the holed ship would be potentially disastrous.

"An aircraft was sent out early this morning and saw a light diesel sheen which is heading northeast away from the island," said David Gray, AMSA spokesman, who described the incident as a very rare occurrence in Australian waters.

There were no reports of any casualties among the 253 crew on board.