Warship Appearance In Maunalua Bay Due To 'minor' Malfunction

By Star-Advertiser Staff

POSTED: 04:34 p.m. HST, Jul 13, 2010

The unusual appearance of an Australian warship in Maunalua Bay yesterday was due to a "minor" stern gate malfunction during Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, officials said.

The HMAS Kanimbla entered Maunalua Bay's calm waters so the gate could be lowered and the problem could be fixed, the U.S. Navy said. The stern gate allows the launch of amphibious vehicles.

The ship anchored in an authorized area more than half a mile south of the nearest charted reef, the U.S. Navy said. Officials said the 522-foot ship, with a draft of 17 feet, was in no danger of running aground.

The Kanimbla was commissioned in 1971 in the U.S. Navy as the USS Saginaw, a Newport-class tank landing ship, and was acquired by Australia in 1994.