YOKOSUKA, Nov 3 – The 7th Fleet of the United States Navy (US Navy) said the incident that struck the submarine USS CONNECTICUT in South China Sea was due to a collision with an uncharted seamount.

On 3 Nov 2021, we were shocked by news of a breach on the seabed by the U.S. Nuclear Submarine USS CONNECTICUT in South China Sea and were stranded in a seamount area not gazetted on any navigation chart.

Seamounts are a feature of the seabed that can have a negative impact on submarines during submerged operations. Furthermore, navigation on the seabed does not use eye contact like the navigation of ships on the surface of the sea. An informative chart is able to give a clear picture to the submarine crew that is operating on the seabed.

High-resolution surveying throughout Malaysian waters is a very important activity to identify the existence of seabed features that could endanger the safety of submarine navigation. This task has to be performed using vessels equipped with high-tech measuring instruments.

Not only limited to submarine safety, the importance of owning a national research vessel (National Research Vessel) is critical to ensure that every inch of the seabed is gazetted and thoroughly studied. This involvement and responsibility must be borne by every ministry and agency that has an interest in the country’s maritime sovereignty.

Ministry of Defence Malaysia
Royal Malaysian Navy
Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters
National Security Council
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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YOKOSUKA, 3 Nov – Pihak Armada ke-7 Pasifik (7th Fleet) Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat (US Navy) menyatakan insiden menimpa kapal selam USS CONNECTICUT di kawasan perairan Indo-Pasifik adalah berpunca dari pelanggaran dengan gunung laut.

Pada 3 Nov 2021, kita telah dikejutkan dengan berita pelanggaran di dasar laut oleh Kapal Selam Nuklear Amerika Syarikat USS CONNECTICUT di perairan Indo-Pasifik dan telah terkandas di kawasan gunung laut yang tidak diwartakan di mana-mana carta pelayaran.

Gunung laut merupakan fitur dasar laut yang mampu memberi impak yang buruk terhadap kapal selam semasa melaksanakan operasi selaman (submerged operation). Tambahan pula pelayaran di dasar laut tidak menggunakan pandangan mata seperti pelayaran kapal-kapal di atas permukaan laut. Carta yang penuh berinformasi mampu memberikan gambaran yang jelas kepada krew kapal selam yang sedang beroperasi di dasar laut.

Pengukuran beresolusi tinggi di seluruh perairan Malaysia merupakan satu aktiviti yang amat penting bagi mengenal pasti kewujudan fitur-fitur dasar laut yang boleh membahayakan keselamatan pelayaran kapal selam. Tugas ini perlu dilaksanakan menggunakan kapal yang dilengkapi dengan instrumen pengukuran berteknologi tinggi.

Tidak hanya terhad kepada keselamatan kapal selam, kepentingan memiliki sebuah kapal penyelidikan negara (National Research Vessel) adalah amat kritikal untuk memastikan setiap inci dasar laut diwartakan dan dikaji secara menyeluruh. Penglibatan dan tanggungjawab ini perlu digalas oleh setiap kementerian dan agensi yang berkepentingan terhadap kawasan kedaulatan maritim negara.

Kementerian Pertahanan Malaysia
Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia
Markas Pemerintahan Armada Timur
Majlis Keselamatan Negara
Kementerian Luar Negeri