Fire Extensively Damages HMAS Bundaberg

Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Bundaberg has suffered significant damage in a fire yesterday that broke out while the patrol boat was undergoing routine maintenance in a shed at Aluminium Boats Australia (ABA) in Brisbane, according to the Navy’s Chief Vice Admiral Tim Barrett.

“I have been advised that HMAS Bundaberg has suffered significant damage, though we will not know the full extent until the vessel has been fully examined,” Vice Admiral Barrett said.

Two civilian contractors were treated for smoke inhalation.  All other civilian and Navy personnel were safely evacuated, as informed by the Australian Navy.

“The most important thing is that no-one was seriously harmed by the fire,” Vice Admiral Barrett said, “the next step is to determine the cause and extent of the materiel damage.”

Bundaberg is one of 14 patrol boats rotating through border protection operations.

The Navy said that “given that Bundaberg was undergoing an extended maintenance period, yesterday’s fire will cause no immediate effect to ongoing operations.”

A full investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire.

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Press Release, August 12, 2014; Image: Australian Navy