Singapore cooperating in power cable probe
Posted Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:37pm AEST
Map: Darwin 0800 Singapore's ministry of defence says it will cooperate with investigations into how one of its navy vessels snagged an underwater power cable in Darwin.
Singapore navy vessel RSS Tenacious was anchored in Darwin Harbour for Exercise Singaroo 2010.
A statement from the defence ministry says the ship was told it was anchored too close to underwater cables and it should relocate.
But when crew members attempted to pull up the anchor it snagged a 66,000-volt power cable and raised it 30 metres from the seabed.
The Power and Water Corporation says it may be some days before the extent of the damage to the cable is known, but has indicated there may be an expensive repair bill.
The harbour master is investigating the incident, which he says happened in a clearly marked "no anchor" area.