This afternoon the corvette HDMS OLFERT FISCHER has touched the ground off the Danish Navy’s training area at Sjællands Odde.

In connection with training to counter an asymmetric threat (a threat from small ships, planes or from land) the Danish corvette HDMS OLFERT FISCHER hit the ground at Sjællands Odde.

At high speed and close to land HDMS OLFERT FISCHER performs a manoeuvre that brings the ship in over the 10 meter curve whereby one of the propellers touches the ground. During the incident no persons were hurt.

Presently OLFERT FISCHER is at anchor off Sjællands Odde until tugs from the Danish Navy arrive and escort HDMS OLFERT FISCHER to Fredericia Shipyard.

The Press Officer at Admiral Danish Fleet Headquarters, Lieutenant Commander Jesper H. Lynge states:

– OLFERT FISCHER was doing gunnery training under high speed and close to land to simulate attacks from smaller craft. The training is performed to the limit in order to create as realistic a scenario as possible and it is here that the ship performs a manoeuvre which brings the ship in to a water depth of less than 10 meters.

– Even though the ship’s draught is normally 4,8 meters the ship anyway gets in contact with the ground due to the suction effect that arises between the ship and the ground at high speed.

– Preliminary diver inspections are indicating that only one of the propellers is damaged and we are currently gathering further information about the incident. When that is done the case will be handed over to the Danish Defence Ship Damage Commission.

HDMS OLFERT FISCHER is currently participating in the big naval exercise DANEX 08 where many participants from Germany, Great Britain, Poland and Denmark are training naval skills with special focus on the Danish Navy’s international engagement in the area around the Horn of Africa.