AUSTRALIAN WARSHIP

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Contaminated water supplies hits Navy tankers

The crews of the HMAS 'Supply' and HMAS 'Stalwart' are being forced to drink bottled water as the navy worked to urgently fix a contamination problem linked to plumbing. Poor quality manufacture has led to pipes being contaminated, drinking water being contaminated and the sailors not being able to access safe drinking water. The water contamination problem was first identified two years ago when the warships entered service, but Defence had only just briefed the Albanese government. The fittings and the fixtures have to be replaced so that safe water is plumbed in. The shipbuilder Navantia has acknowledged the defects and was working with the navy to resolve the situation. The Defence, however, did not believe the water contamination problems would currently prevent the tankers from being deployed on operations.