THE de-commissioning of navy vessel RFNS Kula last Friday brought back memories to Republic of Fiji Military Forces Commander Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto of how he set out on a mission aboard the same vessel about 20 years ago to rescue two sisters from Vanuavatu in the Lau Group.
In sharing his experience that day to young naval officers gathered at Stanley Brown Base in Walu Bay, Suva, Rear Admiral Naupoto said the story about that search and rescue voyage was one that he would never forget.
“For two young sisters from Vanuavatu in Lau, the sight or any mention of the Fiji Navy will bring back memories of what should have been a fateful day,” he said.
“The trip to the search area was bumpy and rough but the crew were very well seasoned from the 31 days delivery voyage that began from the bottom end of the West Coast of Australia, across to, through the Torres straight, down the East Cost to Cairns and then to Fiji.”
He said he never slept that night.
“While arriving at the search datum which was the most likely position the girls would be in at 10pm, the sea was very rough, it was raining and the visibility was nil.
“I could not sleep that night as every time a wave smashed onto the hurl of the sheep my heart sank and i told myself we’ve just killed them.
“When I asked them later after they were rescued as to whether they saw the ship that night, they said that we almost steamed over them three times.”
After several attempts to rescue the two-girls on what seemed to be the most impossible of tasks was completed, Rear Admiral Naupoto said it was one of the best moments of his naval career.
“The sight of the two girls in the small wooden punt against the backdrop of huge waves threatening to swamp over them is a sight that I will never forget.
“This is one of the many success stories of the RFNS Kula and her crew in the past 25-years of her service.”
Meanwhile, the RFNS Kula had been de-commissioned to be returned to Perth, Australia.
