After:
Posted on 03/23/2006 12:32:53 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
THE North Korean freighter used to smuggle 150kg of heroin into Australia three years ago now rests on the ocean's bottom, after being destroyed by a pair of laser-guided bombs.
Four F-111 strike bombers flying from RAAF Amberley in Queensland proved dead on target as the 3500-tonne freighter drifted 140km off Jervis Bay this morning. Two 800kg precision guided bombs struck the Pong Su's hull with massive blasts, showering debris over a wide area. The vessel sank quickly into deep water.
The Pong Su was seized off the New South Wales coast in April 2003 after a four-day chase involving Australian soldiers, police and Customs officers after it was spotted dropping a cargo of drugs along the Victorian coast.
The vessel sat in Sydney Harbour up to this week, costing the Australian taxpayer an estimated $2500 a day.
Earlier this month, four Pong Su officers accused of aiding and abetting the importation of heroin were acquitted and released. Four others involved in the operation pleaded guilty and two have been jailed.
Lawyers for the vessel owners say they are considering suing the Australian Government for seizure of the ship and loss of earnings.
But Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Australia was entitled to sink the vessel.
"The law is very clear on this matter," he said.
"The convictions of four people for drug smuggling, including one crew member, have established the Pong Su was used by a North Korean drug syndicate to land heroin on the Australian shoreline."
Mr Ruddock said the conclusion of legal proceedings meant the ship could be considered narcotics-related goods and dealt with in such a manner as the Australian Federal Police considered appropriate.
He said there had been extensive discussions and the preferred option was for the ship to be sunk at sea.
"The Pong Su was used in an attempt to bring heroin to Australia and it will never be put to that use again," Mr Ruddock said.
"I'm sure all Australians will consider this an appropriate fate for such a vessel."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia remained concerned about possible ties with the North Korean Government, which has persistently denied any involvement.
"We have raised that with the North Korean government on a number of occasions, most recently in the last couple of weeks," he said.
"This isn't, after all, a private sector economy where private companies are doing things on their own accord. This is a command economy.
"It is very important that the North Korean Government makes sure, in future, that none of its ships are engaged in these sorts of activities.
"It is appropriate that we publicly demonstrate our outrage at what has happened by sinking this ship."
The Pong Su was prepared for her final voyage by removing all potentially polluting fuel and oil.
Maritime commander Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas admitted the navy would have liked the honour of dispatching the ship either by surface gunfire or by submarine torpedo.
"But we couldn't get the gear over here for it. So we gave it to the air force," he said.
Celebrating the Kim-Jong-Ils birthday?
We wish it was his birthday EVERY day!!! LOL!
God bless you Aussies, by the way. :)
It looked SENSATIONAL on TV!
God bless you Septics, too :)
Wowser, I love happy news.
Thank you for this wonderful party!!!
The article doesn't say, but I sure hope they removed the 150kG of heroin as well.
They don't need any fish junkies, I'm sure.
Indeed, that is the best place to sink a ship.
Too bad they didn't put the 4 that they convicted back on the ship before they sank it. That would've appropriately demonstrated their "outrage at what has happened by sinking this ship.". But of course that didn't happen, and now the Aussie taxpayers will have to fork over $$ for care and feeding of the new inmates. I'd be willing to wager that it will cost more than the $2500/day it cost to keep the ship in the harbor. Which brings me to my next question. Why $2500/day to keep a ship anchored in the harbor? Is it metered parking only? Or?
Was the ship no longer usable? Could they not have benefited more by reflagging it, auctioning it off, or atleast using it for scrap steel? Anyone know the rest of the story?
hehe nice catch!
The material condition of the ship was probably so bad that the cost of rehabilitating it was prohibitive. Plus, a SINKEX provides valuable training for Airforce and Navy pilots and gunners(and they're really cool!)
Perhaps they were concerned that, given the Dear Leader's propensity for irrational and violent scheming and outbursts, this ship would have been an ongoing provocation and a magnet for mischief in the future.
"Perhaps they were concerned that, given the Dear Leader's propensity for irrational and violent scheming and outbursts, this ship would have been an ongoing provocation and a magnet for mischief in the future."
Unlike, say, the USS Pueblo.
the fish will get high
There is no cheap appeal of a sinking.
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