Balikpapan’s heroes in a half-shell
3 June 2010 By LEUT David Foulds
Personnel from HMAS Balikpapan (Lieutenent Trevor Stecum) spotted and rescued a turtle at sea on May 1.
Balikpapan was transiting through the Timor Sea from Dili, East Timor to Darwin, bearing a consignment of Op Astute equipment.
The lookout called to the officer on watch that he had spotted a turtle struggling in a ghost net, and the Landing Craft Heavy quickly reversed course to close the distance.
A turtle at sea is a difficult thing to spot at the best of times, so a search pattern was commenced and contact was soon regained.
Once close in to the net, the sea boat was launched and soon recovered the turtle and net to the tank deck.
After being cut free of the net the turtle was returned to the sea to resume its course, while Balikpapan’s crew were glad to have rid the world of one more ghost net.
