1.
MS MELBOURNE
0.04

2.
CU REPAIRED BOW
0.09

3.
MLS SIDE VIEW OF BOW
0.12

4.
MLS REFUELLING BUOY
0.16

5.
MLS CREW LINE DECK
0.19

6.
MLS SIDE VIEW OF BOW AND ZOOM OUT
0.25

7.
MLS PLANES ON FLIGHT DECK
0.30

8.
MLS PAN FLIGHT DECK
0.35

9.
LS BRIDGE
0.38

10.
MLS MELBOURNE SAILS (TWO SHOTS)
0.46

11.
LS BRITISH NAVAL BASE DOCKYARD
0.51

12.
LS MELBOURNE AWAY (TWO SHOTS)
0.57

13.
LS FRIGATE ESCORTING PAN TO MELBOURNE
1.05



Initials CAR/VS/MK/CA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE 25,000-TON AUSTRALIAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER MELBOURNE TEMPORARILY REPAIRED AFTER HER RECENT COLLISION, SAILED FOR HOME FROM SINGAPORE TODAY. SHE WILL UNDERGO PERMANENT REPAIRS IN SYDNEY.

THE MELBOURNE DAMAGED HER BOW DURING A COLLISION WITH THE AMERICAN DESTROYER FRANK E. EVANS DURING A SEATO EXERCISE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA EARLY THIS MONTH. THE EVANS WAS SLICED INTO TWO AND THE FORWARD SECTION SANK WITH THE LOSS OF 74 MEN. AN INQUIRY INTO THE COLLISION IS BEING HELD AT SUBIC BAY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

IN THE TRADITIONAL FAREWELL, THE CREW OF THE MELBOURNE LINED THE REPAIRED FLIGHT DECK AS THE CARRIER LEFT THE REFUELLING BUOY OPPOSITE THE BRITISH NAVAL REPAIR YARD AND STEAMED DOWN THE STRAITS OF JOHORE. SHE IS BEING ESCORTED ON THE VOYAGE BY THE AUSTRALIAN FRIGATE PARRAMATTA.

TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER, MELBOURNE'S BOW LOOKS AS GOOD AS NEW, BUT SCARS CAN STILL BE DETECTED WHERE THE SUPERSTRUCTURE HAS BEEN PATCHED UP.