NSW: sailor is demoted over high jinks on Navy ship

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2000
NSW: sailor is demoted over high jinks on Navy ship

Lowe, who is married with two children, confessed to the court martial hearing yesterday
that he had a "binge drinking problem" and had been drunk on the night of the incident.

He said he had drunk his two allowed beers before consuming half a bottle of duty-free
Bundaberg Black Label rum during a late night party on board the ship.

Lowe, a combat systems supervisor, said he had suffered a blackout and was unable to
remember anything about the accident until the shout of man overboard.

However the three-man court martial panel heard that after the incident Lowe had told
others he had held Able Seaman Gibbons over the side and dropped her.

"I held her over the side. I stumbled. One minute she was there and one minute she
wasn't," he was heard to have said.

"I remember having her in my arms and then she was gone. For some reason I just let
her go, I don't know why I did it. If I could do it again 100 times I would not have dropped
her."

Also in evidence yesterday it was revealed that Lowe had been disciplined twice before
for alcohol-related incidents.

In 1990 he was charged with assault and was ordered to participate in a alcohol counselling
program, given 28 days detention and was reduced in rank from Able Seaman to Seaman.

Three years later he was again involved in an assault which involved drinking and was
given a suspended 28-day sentence and underwent a psychological assessment.

An expert pharmacologist estimated Lowe's blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident
on the warship would have been about 0.40 - eight times the drink driving limit.

Yesterday Lowe admitted his behaviour had been "irresponsible, immature and reckless"

but said he had ben suffering marital problems at the time.

Maritime Commander Rear Admiral John Lord said in a statement after the court martial
hearing finished that the incident had been serious but it was an isolated one.

"It should be noted it involved only seven people from a very professional 220 personnel,"

Rear Admiral Lord said.

"The navy is committed to providing a safe and harmonious workplace."

When questioned he denied there was a problem with drinking among the sailors, saying
there was a rule that only 750ml of alcohol was allowed per day because being at sea was
a "dangerous environment".

He said six other sailors who were involved in the incident had been dealt with within
days of the accident.

Rear Admiral Lord said he hoped Lowe could now concentrate on his career again.

"This fellow has a chance now to get on with his career. If he performs well there
is always a chance of promotion."

AAP jx/sb/lw/bwlG

KEYWORD: SAILOR 2 SYDNEY

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