A real stinker.. gas masks and all...Beauty bath!!

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

FOUR navy sailors narrowly escaped death when they were "gassed" aboard an Armidale class patrol boat.

The fleet inspectors, who conduct war readiness inspections aboard navy vessels, were asleep on HMAS Maitland in Darwin when they were overcome by hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg) gas in the spare bunk room.

The gas was generated by a failure of the boat's sewage treatment plant, a defence spokesman said.

The fault has not been fully rectified and the accommodation areas on the Armidales remain off-limits.

Despite the seriousness of the incident, it was kept a secret by the navy.

"All casualties have been provided with the best standard of medical care available post-incident and have been regularly followed up by both military and civilian medical staff," the spokesman said.

According to the navy, operating restrictions implemented after the August 2006 emergency remain in place on the boats, known by their crews as "Armifails".

Both the navy and Comcare investigated the gassing incident and recommended "configuration" changes.

"As a precaution, compartment restrictions and monitoring remain in place until technical feasibility studies are completed and any subsequent configuration changes can be implemented," the spokesman said.

According to the 2007 defence annual report the Armidale boats, which are designed and built to commercial rather than naval operating standards, achieved just 60 per cent of their performance targets for the year.

Sailors serving on the $40 million boats say they are riddled with faults, and morale is at rock bottom. And according to navy sources, crews are leaving in droves to join the mining boom.

The 14 boats were built by West Australian company Austal, under a $550 million contract, to replace the ageing but reliable Fremantle class fleet.

The entire Armidale fleet was tied up last year due to a water/fuel contamination problem.

Other problems with the boats include blocked toilets, lack of personal storage space, American two-pronged 115-volt power points, unsecured anchors, inadequate lighting, communications failures, and lack of training.

The navy defended the Armidales, saying that just one of 12 now in service was tied up with problems.

HMAS Maitland has been deployed, the first time an Australian has participated in this 22nd Indian Ocean Fleet Exercise named MILAN 2008. 13 nations have been invited to participate, 9 will show for sure. Eight nations with 20 ships are expected to be apart of the exercise.

Hope the shelia is all "spic and span" and tighter than a "mud puppy". Oh she smells wonderful. Follow us in for the fresh-tivities will ya!!