The SA Navy says it has taken steps to improve operational safety following an investigation into the deaths of three officers during a naval exercise off the coast of Kommetjie in September last year.
The navy’s standing operating procedures are also being revised to improve areas highlighted by the board of inquiry.
Lieutenant Commander Gillian Elizabeth Hector (executive officer), Master Warrant Officer William Masela Mathipa (coxswain), and Warrant Officer Class One Mmokwapa Lucas Mojela (coxswain under training) died after being swept overboard by freak waves during an exercise on the submarine SAS Manthatisi.
At the time, the Echo reported that seven of the sub’s crew member had been swept overboard on Wednesday September 20, last year.
The crew had been doing a vertical transfer (Vertrep) using an SA Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter.
SAS Manthatisi had been en route to Table Bay from Simon’s Town for the South African Navy Festival at the V&A Waterfront (“Three SA Navy officers dead after being swept out to sea,” Echo, September 21, 2023).
The navy released the outcome of the investigation into the incident in a statement on Friday September 6.
Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Monde Lobese, briefed the families of the deceased on Wednesday September 4.
On the day of the incident, he said, SAS Mantashishi had been cleared to conduct multiple makeovers, including the Vertrep, which had been performed in similar and worse weather conditions.
Despite the officer commanding of both the submarine and helicopter approving the exercise, it was called off because two members could not get on the casing and the members were hoisted back into the helicopter.
As they prepared to return to the submarine, sea conditions suddenly changed, and freak waves swept Lieutenant Commander Hector, Master Warrant Officer Mathipa, Warrant Officer Mojela, and another crew member into the sea.
Though attached to safety lines, Lieutenant Commander Hector hit her head on the submarine’s hull, rendering her unconscious. With the help of a safety swimmer, the crew was brought back onto the casing, and Lieutenant Commander Hector was resuscitated and breathing.
As Master Warrant Officer Mathipa and Warrant Officer Mojela unclipped their safety lines to return to the submarine, another freak wave washed them overboard. The remaining crew tried to rescue them, but a second wave dispersed them.
Lieutenant Commander Hector was safely brought back into the submarine, where a medic attended to her, while the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) rescued the others in the water.
Despite attempts by the medic, Master Warrant Officer Mathipa and Warrant Officer Mojela could not be resuscitated.
Vice Admiral Lobese stated that the force of the waves, combined with heavy wet gear and cold sea conditions, left the crew with no energy, making it impossible for them to do anything but float and wait for rescue.
In response to the board’s findings, the navy has upgraded its safety protocols. These include new life jackets capable of handling up to 270kg, compared to the 120kg ones used at the time. The safety line system has also been improved to prevent members from being submerged, and it can now support up to five crew members.
The naval doctrine has been updated with clearer guidelines for safety line use, and making headgear and man-overboard locator beacons mandatory for casing parties. Submarine rescue personnel are now required to be strong swimmers instead of “only conversant with water”.
“Even if all lessons learned had been implemented, and corrective actions taken before this exercise, there is no guarantee the outcome would have been different given the circumstances. What we do know is that the sailors of SAS Mantashishi were heroes, following their code of conduct, assisting their comrades even at the risk of their own lives,” said Vice Admiral Lobese.
