So how extensive is the damage to SPS Blas de Lezo?
Last I heard she
limped into port on Sunday. I have read a few articles calling for the 6th FFG sooner rather than later to mitigate problems like this.
Better than I expected Galrahn, the first informations of the Spanish newspapers were somewhat alarmists in my opinion, specially because the Navy hasn't announced anything official about the extension of the damages and the figures and time-frames published by the media were given even before she arrived at Ferrol and could be examined in detail by Navantia & the Navy.
Nevertheless if we thrust in the rumor mill it seems that the damages could be very serious or minor, depending who you talk. At this time seems one of the shafts lost two spades, also she received some damage causing a smaller water leak, from there the listing reported. Nevertheless the ship sail to Ferrol by her own and after disembark munitions and fuel in the "A Graña" Arsenal is predicted to be transferred to the shipyards of Navantia where a dry dock is already prepared to receive her.
The listing was almost inappreciable at her return to Ferrol. She was photographed in the Arsenal of "A Graña" last Sunday:
Photo © Señalero (fotosdebarcos.com).
The official investigation is in course.
I doubt that we know anything in definite terms of time and money until the frigate be examined in dry dock, the damages catalogued, and the necessary repairs to be made by Navantia be known.
PD: The official Press Note of the Spanish Navy about the incident:
La fragata “Blas de Lezo” interrumpe su participación en un ejercicio y regresa a su Base Naval.
Fecha: Martes, 25 septiembre 2007
En la madrugada de hoy día 25, navegando en aguas del noroeste de Reino Unido, durante su participación en los ejercicios multinacionales -Neptune Warrior 2007-, la fragata -Blas de Lezo- tocó fondo en las proximidades del banco Sgeir Inoe (Escocia). No se han producido daños personales y el buque navega de regreso a Ferrol, mientras se evalúan los posibles daños materiales. Tiene prevista su llegada a su base naval a últimas horas del día 28.
La Armada como es habitual en estos casos ha iniciado la correspondiente investigación sobre los hechos acaecidos.
Translation:
The frigate "Blas de Lezo" interrupts her participation in an exercise and returns to its Naval Base.
Date: Tuesday - September 25th, 2007
In today early morning, sailing in waters of the northwest of United Kingdom, during her participation in the multinational exercises -Neptune Warrior 2007-, the frigate -Blas de Lezo- ran aground in the proximity of the Sgeir Inoe bank (Scotland). Not personal damages have been produced and the ship sails on return to Ferrol, while the possible damages are evaluated. Has predicted her arrival to her naval base in the last hours of the 28th.
The Spanish Navy as is habitual in these cases has initiated the corresponding investigation on the facts happened.