Vessels damaged as HMS Chiddingfold appears to reverse into HMS Bangor in Bahrain
Two Royal Navy minehunters have been involved in a crash while attempting to berth in Bahrain Harbour.
While some damage was sustained when HMS Chiddingfold collided with HMS Bangor, no personnel were hurt.
HMS Chiddingfold is said to remain operational having sustained only minor damage, while it is unclear for how long HMS Bangor will be out of action.
This is not the first incident involving HMS Chiddingfold, as in April 2021 she struck HMS Penzance when attempting to berth at the UK's naval base in Bahrain.
The collision in the Gulf led to approximately £100,000 worth of damage.
Popular social media account Fill Your Boots shared the video of the most recent collision on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Rear Admiral Edward Ahlgren, Commander Operations, said: "I am aware of a recent incident that took place between two minehunters in Bahrain Harbour.
"First of all I would like to stress that thankfully nobody was hurt in the collision, but some damage was sustained.
"Why this happened is still to be established. We train our people to the highest standards and rigorously enforce machinery safety standards, but unfortunately incidents of this nature can still happen.
"I assure you that a full and thorough investigation is already underway and any changes in procedure that could prevent further incidents will be rapidly implemented.
"In the meantime, the UK will continue to play a key part in ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region."
Not incompetence
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the collision suggests something "clearly" went wrong, but denied it was incompetence.
He told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "Just as in aviation or many other walks of life sometimes accidents and incidents happen. There's a full investigation underway."
When he was asked if it was incompetence, Mr Shapps replied: "We don't say it's incompetence when we see an aircraft come down, a very rare occasion just as this would be a rare occasion.
"It's right to leave the investigators some time to work out exactly what’s gone wrong. Something clearly did and we need to see what it is."
HMS Chiddingfold is one of eight Hunt-class minehunters in the Royal Navy which make up the Second Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCM2).
The ship's company maintains a high state of readiness and is ready to undertake operations at very short notice in locations from the Middle East to the North Atlantic.
HMS Bangor's primary responsibility is to seek out, detect and destroy mines, using the SeaFox unmanned underwater vehicle and a team of highly skilled Mine Clearance Divers.
Following the recent farewell to minehunter HMS Penzance, HMS Bangor is now the only Sandown-class minehunter left in Royal Navy service.
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