Woodentop
Well-Known Member
In a different thread;
Mike Echo Papa stated;
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Recently the harbour was closed for hours because a boat brought into the harbour a suspicious object. This was in direct contravention of a NM which states that it should have been left 1 mile outside. Was anybody prosecuted or even told off, no. Why, because the *&^%$* HM told them to bring it into the harbour. DOH!
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The fishing vessel MOJO, based in Weymouth, reported a floating object roughly east of Portland Bill. He reported a tree trunk or telegraph pole with 1 foot above the surface and the rest below.
It was considered to be a hazard to navigation which could smack a hole in the Condor Express, never mind sinking a smaller vessel.
He offered to snag it and tow it ashore. HMCG concurred. The Weymouth Harbourmaster agreed to receive the object at the Fish Dock and arrange for its disposal.
As the Harbourmaster began to winch it out of the water he realised that it was not wood. A fact that was not apparent to MOJO because of the marine growth on it.
He contacted HMCG for a second opinion and after discussions with HMCG/ ex-RN personnel and the EOD experts it then became apparent that this was a torpedo. What was unknown was the state of the warhead. When EOD arrived and dived on the object it became clear that the warhead was not present.
There was no suspicion of weaponry/explosives/ordnance until the object was winched out of the water. Until then it was clearly believed to be a pole/trunk.
If it had been left in place it would have been a significant hazard to navigation - enough to destroy a yacht, sink a fishing boat or damage an aluminium hulled ferry with 800 persons on board.
It was brought in with the agreement of the HM.
Would Mike Echo Papa please confine himself to facts and not pub-gossip.
Mike Echo Papa stated;
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Recently the harbour was closed for hours because a boat brought into the harbour a suspicious object. This was in direct contravention of a NM which states that it should have been left 1 mile outside. Was anybody prosecuted or even told off, no. Why, because the *&^%$* HM told them to bring it into the harbour. DOH!
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The fishing vessel MOJO, based in Weymouth, reported a floating object roughly east of Portland Bill. He reported a tree trunk or telegraph pole with 1 foot above the surface and the rest below.
It was considered to be a hazard to navigation which could smack a hole in the Condor Express, never mind sinking a smaller vessel.
He offered to snag it and tow it ashore. HMCG concurred. The Weymouth Harbourmaster agreed to receive the object at the Fish Dock and arrange for its disposal.
As the Harbourmaster began to winch it out of the water he realised that it was not wood. A fact that was not apparent to MOJO because of the marine growth on it.
He contacted HMCG for a second opinion and after discussions with HMCG/ ex-RN personnel and the EOD experts it then became apparent that this was a torpedo. What was unknown was the state of the warhead. When EOD arrived and dived on the object it became clear that the warhead was not present.
There was no suspicion of weaponry/explosives/ordnance until the object was winched out of the water. Until then it was clearly believed to be a pole/trunk.
If it had been left in place it would have been a significant hazard to navigation - enough to destroy a yacht, sink a fishing boat or damage an aluminium hulled ferry with 800 persons on board.
It was brought in with the agreement of the HM.
Would Mike Echo Papa please confine himself to facts and not pub-gossip.
