The following is from a recently serving naval officer after reading the report:
Certainly in RNZN/RAN/RN ships, a variety of damage control drills are exercised daily, with significant and complex exercises also carried out a number of times monthly. When in the dry dock, along with the various ship’s crews that visit (commercial and navy), the local Fire and Emergency units pay a familiarisation visit. There is also the incessant eye kept on proceedings, both from Babcock and Navy OSH teams that rove daily, with more detailed inspections taking place weekly, covering cleanliness, permits, safety equipment and the like. Any pick-ups are actioned there and then and followed up in a formal reporting process. Yes, it can be painful and annoying at times…but it is also oh so useful to prevent losses such as the USS BR. We have had the odd small fire, mostly from Hot Work, but with good Firewatchers in place, they have been discovered and extinguished
The only thing surprising in this article is that the Navy dinged so many Flag Officers. Talk to any SWO or Chief about the life on sea duty and you will here stories about lack of maintenance, adequate manning, and ridiculously long hours. If US Navy ships were subject to Port State inspections, a good number of them would be spending the majority of their time under detention.
By golly, that fixed it, Now I feel better…