Warship-Choules

On the morning of March 3, 2025, the HMAS 'Chouwes' has rescued the Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus off the Queensland coast after he was caught in a tropical cyclone’s 130km/h winds and monster waves about 740 kilometres east of Mackay., while attempting a 12,000km Pacific Ocean crossing from San Diego to Brisbane in his solo rowing boat. He was now safely onboard the HMAS 'Choules' and undergoing a medical assessment. He was expected to return to Sydney’s Garden Island naval base with the ship. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority led the SAR effort. Because of highly unfavourable sea conditions, Mockus’s rowing boat could not be recovered except for two oars and some personal items. Mockus had activated his emergency beacon late on Feb 28 as Tropical Cyclone Alfred sent strong winds and heavy seas. An SAR mission began with a Cairns-based Challenger jet sent to find the rower, failing to spot Mockus on March 1 but it did make contact with the tired rower, who was shovelling water from the boat and asked for help ASAP. Mockus set off on the journey in October and was days away from reaching his final destination after rowing about 70 nautical miles a day. He was bracing for the maximum power of the cyclone on Feb 27, saying he just needed to survive the next two days. The weather conditions later eased but the Coral Sea was still within the category-two cyclone’s influence on March 2, with winds up to 100km/h and five- to seven-metre seas. Reports with photos and video: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/03/navy-ship-on-rescue-mission-for-stranded-ocean-rower-aurimas-mockus-off-australias-east-coast https://www.gva.be/buitenland/golven-van-zeven-meter-hoog-litouwse-oceaanroeier-gered-uit-storm-voor-australische-kust-tijdens-poging-tot-wereldrecord/46837323.html https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/emergency-services/search-and-rescue/royal-australian-navy-ship-rescues-distressed-boater-in-cyclone-hit-seas

Defence is still trying to figure out why the $100 million navy vessel HMAS Choules bought last year from the United Kingdom and given a clean bill of mechanical health broke down. Defence Materiel Organisation chief executive Warren King has told a senate budget estimates hearing one of two main propulsion transformers aboard the amphibious landing ship HMAS Choules had failed. The catastrophe occurred in June 2012 when Choules sailed north from Sydney to participate in Exercise Hamel and had to return on reduced power.

Signs of premature ageing have been found on the ex-RN RFA HMAS "Choules". The "Choules" suffered a defect while on her way to Queensland to support Exercise Hamel causing her to return to Sydney. At the time of the incident all other transformers were checked by the transformer manufacturer Siemens and found to be within specification. Following the removal of the two starboard side propulsion transformers, further investigation has been possible and this has indicated signs of premature ageing. A deeper level inspection of all remaining transformers in the ship has revealed similar problems but at varying levels. The transformer manufacturer is yet to confirm that this contributed to the failure of the starboard propulsion transformer. Work is now underway in conjunction with the transformer manufacturer, the on-site support agencies and Defence Science and Technology Organisation to determine when the remaining transformers need to be replaced. The Defence Materiel Organisation also contacted the UK Ministry of Defence to coordinate further investigations. Should HMAS "Choules" be further delayed in her return to service, HMAS "Tobruk" and the Australian Defence Vessel "Ocean Shield" will have to provide any humanitarian assistance or disaster relief response if required by the Government.