HMS Ocean

My colleagues and I were very privileged to be invited onboard HMS Ocean (L12).

This warship with helicopters' landing facility is berthed at South Breakwater Pier in Changi Naval Base. After a tight security check, we were finally on this 24000 tonnes ship.

As many as 6 helicopters can land on this warship.

We visited the Bridge of this ship. It has modern facilities to make navigation in the oceans safely and efficiently.

At a corner of this Bridge, there is an area where air traffic controllers worked. These people overlook the landing platform and ensure the helicopters can land or take off smoothly and safely.

This ship can travel at a maximum ship of about 19 knots (< 38 km/hr).

It will be leaving Singapore a few days later to take part in a defence exercise in the South China Sea.

The crew is busy loading tonnes of potatoes, carrots, fruit juices etc into the ship.

It is really an eye-opening experience for me.

For more info about this ship,
please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(L12)