RSS VALOUR RETURNS FROM EIGHT-DAY SEARCH OPS FOR MISSING AIRASIA PLANE

The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) missile corvette RSS Valour has returned to Singapore, after an eight-day search for AirAsia plane QZ8501 which went missing on 28 Dec 2014.

The warship entered Tuas Naval Base around midday on 5 Jan.

Although it was a homecoming, the mood was sombre. During its search operations in the Java Sea, the ship recovered debris and a piece of luggage from the ill-fated flight. The search area is about six times the size of Singapore.

Said Military Expert (ME) 3 Tan Lay Ping: "Each time we recovered items (from the plane), we remembered the passengers, and that we were helping the families get some form of closure."

Added the 42-year-old Coxswain of RSS Valour: "We knew that we were there to help; and that was what kept me and the ship crew going."

"The conditions were adverse and challenging but the crew, both from Singapore and the multinational forces, remain committed to the search," said Lieutenant Colonel Ricky Law, Commanding Officer RSS Valour.

The ship crew had to endure rough seas, with swells reaching almost four metres. "It's hard to operate under these conditions, but the crew know the importance of the task at hand," said LTC Law, 43.

Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han and other senior naval officers were at the naval base to receive the ship. Said RADM Lai: "Our people have given their all and their best during the multinational search operation. They have worked tirelessly amidst challenging weather conditions and I want to commend them for their dedication and commitment."

The 66-man crew on board RSS Valour looked visibly tired, but kept their fellow sailors still involved in the search efforts in their thoughts. "I want to wish all of them fair winds and following seas, and to keep up their morale in order to complete their tasks," said ME3 Tan.

With the operations having shifted to focus on underwater search, another RSN ship, frigate RSS Supreme, will depart from the search area for Singapore in the evening of 5 Jan for replenishment, after assisting the search operations for more than a week.

The Singapore Armed Forces has deployed more than 400 personnel, two Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 Hercules utility aircraft, five navy ships and a six-man Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) team.

Landing ship tank RSS Persistence, mine countermeasure vessel RSS Kallang, MV Swift Rescue, and the AUV team continue their search efforts in the Java Sea.