The NRP Viana do Castelo.
The incident “occurred during checks on the ship’s weapons systems, as part of preparations for leaving for sea”. No injuries were reported in this rare occurrence, but the Navy will investigate.
The Portuguese Navy accidentally carried out, on Monday morning, a cannon firing which hit a local traffic vessel moored in the port of Ponta Delgada.
It was the Navy itself that reported what happened, in , in which it explained that the shot was fired from the ship NRP Viana do Casteloduring routine testing of weapons systems. This ship fired a non-explosive ammunition and caused damage to the docked vessel, but no injuries were reported.
“There is no damage to be reported to personnel. In an assessment, which is still preliminary, some material damage was identified on the local traffic vessel Isabel C, moored in front of the NRP Viana do Castelo”, reads the Navy’s clarification note.
It all happened while the vessel was preparing to begin a coastal surveillance, fishing inspection and maritime rescue mission.
The Navy confirmed the opening of an investigation process to determine the causes of the shooting and ensure that similar situations do not happen again. According to information collected by , this type of occurrence is considered rare, so the ship’s crew remains on board and in function until the investigation is concluded.
