- Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto is the Commander Republic of the Fiji Military Forces. The events he recounts here occurred when he was the Commanding Officer of the RFNS KULA. This is the final part of the search and rescue operation.
- ICYMI:
- - A Day That I Will Never Forget – Part One
- - A Day That I Will Never Forget – Part Two
- - A Day That I Will Never Forget – Part Three
The seaboat, being the lighter of the two, bore the full brunt of this swell as it was thrown forward with great force that it tore itself away from the ship, snapping the steadying line and was spinning sideways and the momentum hurtling it back towards the side of the ship.
My immediate reaction was to push the throttle and increase speed and allow the boat rope (which was still attached) to then pull the bow of the seaboat to stop the spin but I realised that we were dipping into the bottom of a big swell in front. Had I made that move, the end result could have been disastrous as it meant that KULA would now be faster then the speed of the wave and the front end will be jammed into the bottom of the front swell and the swell that is pushing us from the back could push the stern sideways and the ship will broach.
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Broaching is a situation where a ship is caught in between two big waves and the back wave rolls the ship over. It was a fifty-fifty chance that we could have made it but I hesitated and looked back. Petty Officer Vodo must have read my mind and he pulled on that rope that disengaged the hook. The boat rope from the seaboat allowed the seaboat to drift away from KULA. Had Petty Officer Vodo not done that, the seaboat could have smashed into the ship and capsize and then pulled under the ship into the spinning propellers.
The end result of these spur of the moment decisions was that our means of rescue was now also drifting in that rough sea, upright with the outboard engine still but with no crew. This again was done in full view of the kneeling girl and in close proximity. My immediate worry was that they might attempt to leave their punt and try and swim to the drifting seaboat, and that would definitely result in their demise. We had to act fast! I increased speed as we turned back towards the drifting seaboat, my eyes on the two girls hoping that they will not attempt to swim. We steamed close enough to the two girls and via the loud hailer told them to stay put and that we will rescue them.
We had to now somehow get a crew on to that drifting seaboat and the only way was to swim to it. Everyone knew what was next and before anyone could speak, Petty Officer Vodo and Petty Officer Rokovino (our Electrician) just said in no uncertain terms that they would do it and suited up.
They had flotation vests on and signalled that they were ready. I had to now manoeuvre the ship to keep the seaboat upwind and drop the two Petty Officers downwind but close enough and allow the seaboat to drift towards them. The two will only be allowed into the water when the engines are stopped, a term we refer to as “Red Props” meaning you are not allowed to engage the engines either forward or astern until “Green Props” is declared.
The RFNS Kula heads out on the Suva Harbour. Photo: RFMF Naval Division
Teamwork
It was just sheer strength and determination from the crew that ensured the safe transfer of the two sisters from the seaboat onto KULA. From the flying bridge, I could hear the crew cheering and shouting in jubilation. My reaction was a “THANK YOU LORD “ and then the loudest “YES!!” I have ever shouted in my life.
We then recovered the two Petty Officers and our seaboat with just one hoist. The two jumping off the seaboat as soon as it reached deck level.
The Guardian was so accurate when dropping the dye marker as it was drifting right beside the punt, so Petty Officer Vodo recovered it as well.
(This was returned to the Guardian during one of its later surveillance flight trips to Fiji.)
The two girls were attended to by our medic, Veresoni, and we gave the two sisters some of our clothes to change into and some blankets to warm them up quickly and allowed them to rest for a while. These two sisters had been adrift in that small punt in very rough seas with nothing over their head for approximately 52 hours.
After some needed sleep, they gained enough strength and had a hot shower. After a cup of warm KULA Milo, they were well on their way to full recovery.
I later came down from the bridge and knocked on their door, and there we met face to face for the first time.
Tears
I introduced myself and we shook hands and kissed them on their forehead as I would do to my daughter. They did not say much but just stood there, heads bowed with tears streaming down their faces. That brought tears to my eyes also as it felt as if I had just saved the lives of my own children.
I felt their thankful heart, through their tears saying... “Vinaka Vakalevu”
RFNS KULA carries the Motto “Semper Primus” or “Always First”, a mine-sweeping theme inherited from her decommissioned namesake, which was an ex-US Navy Coastal Minesweeper. On this day, the young KULA was on her first operational task, first search and rescue mission and she had just completed her first successful rescue. She had lived up to her Motto!!
As we were steaming back to Suva, I came down and joined the two sisters for a cup of Milo at the mess deck. Out of curiosity, I asked them if they had seen the lights from the ship the night before. Their answer sent shivers down my spine and still do today whenever I think about it. Their answer was... “Three times we could touch the ship”!
The invisible loving hands of God was definitely around those two sisters that night!
As I watched the ambulance drive out of the Naval Base with the two girls waving goodbye from inside, I knew, that like time and tide, one of the best moments of my naval career had just passed, never to return, but I also knew that the memories will remain with me for the rest of my life.
- This story is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and comradeship of that RFNS KULA delivery crew that I was so privileged and honoured to have served with; as their Commanding Officer. “SEMPER PRIMUS” “ALWAYS FIRST”!
Feedback: rosi.doviverata@fijisun.com.fj
