We Won't Act Alone: Navy Delays Breath-testing
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday September 18, 2002
Sweeping changes to rules about alcohol use by sailors, including the urgent introduction of random breath testing, have been put on hold by the navy.
A naval board of inquiry told navy chiefs that maritime commanders should be given powers to force defence personnel to supply breath or urine specimens and that all ship and shore establishments be issued with hand-held breath-testing devices.
It also recommended that drug sniffer dogs be used by service police in searches of ships.
While the navy said that it supported the intended introduction of ``random, targeted, post incident and voluntary alcohol and drug testing into the Australian Defence Forces", it was not ready to act alone.
The inquiry was held into the death of Leading Seaman Cameron Gurr, 20, lost overboard from HMAS Darwin off Christmas Island on May 3.
Instead of embracing the recommendations of the panel, the navy yesterday said that people, not alcohol, were to blame for the sailor's death.
Middle-ranking officers on the ship's crew now face investigation and disciplinary action because, according to the inquiry, they condoned and encouraged illicit drinking on board.
If they had acted properly, the secret celebration hosted by Leading Seaman Gurr in a ship's radar compartment would never have happened, and nor would his death.
On another front, the inquiry found no fault with the seven-day search for the lost sailor although the navy said it would install better safety equipment, alarms, retractable guard rails and better rescue buoys, and would consider providing personal satellite beacons for people in hazardous shipboard jobs.
Despite pointing the finger at ``middle management" on board HMAS Darwin, the inquiry ultimately ruled that the death was an accident.
In a summary, released yesterday, the inquiry was unable to say whether the accident was due to ``neglect, carelessness or misconduct on the part of any person, or the failure to comply with any orders, instructions or safety procedures".
Much of what went wrong was traced back to the previous Anzac Day, when Leading Seaman Gurr and shipmates were found by officers in a small radar compartment having a party. Instead of reporting the breach, the officers allowed the drinking of illicit alcohol to continue.
``Their failure to report the Anzac Day illicit drinking ... was likely to have the effect of compromising their position ... and condoned the sailors' behaviour," the inquiry said.
On May 3, Leading Seaman Gurr organised a party to celebrate his promotion, but it ended before midnight when, having left the radar room, he went to the adjacent lifeboat deck of the dark ship. He had drunk two cans of full-strength beer, one bottle of Crown Lager and at least four ``slugs" of spirits in 90 minutes. There were no guard rails.
The inquiry summised that he fell from the deck and drowned. No-one realised he was missing until the next day.
While the navy believed that his blood alcohol content was not a factor in his death, the inquiry has been the trigger for a review into naval drinking culture.
Despite strong support within the navy for the introduction of a ``dry ship" policy, the Chief of Navy, Vice-Admiral Chris Ritchie, is against it.
Making things safer
- Boatdeck safety equipment to be upgraded, with extra search and rescue equipment.
- Stricter searches for alcohol being smuggled aboard.
- Search and rescue buoys to have tracking beacons.
- Personal locator beacons for at-risk personnel.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald