It's a minesweeper's job to head out and find things capable of sinking it, of course, and in this ambition Kallisto has apparently raised the bar.

At some point someone might also try raising the stern.

For reference, in happier times HS Kallisto looked like this.

You'll notice it's a lot longer.

The collision with Maersk Launceston has essentially severed most of the ship behind the funnel.

I get the feeling that the upper echelons of the Greek Navy, whilst preparing their debrief, may be reaching for a certain word to describe their feelings towards the captain that they can't quite place.

Perhaps the history of HS Kallisto may provide it...

HS Kallisto was built by the British, and served as HMS Berkeley. As one of the Hunt Class, I'm fairly sure naval humour had a collective name for its crew...

Because although often shortened just "berk", the rhyming slang of "Berkeley Hunt" is a long-standing way to avoid frightening your maiden aunt whilst calling someone an absolute -

Well, calling them the sort of person who leaves a perfectly serviceable ship looking like this.

There are two bits of good news.

Firstly only two people were injured, apparently neither seriously.

Secondly the MoD is trying to flog the identical HMS Atherstone and might just have found a buyer.

I'm sure the crate of port now headed to Maersk's HQ is a coincidence...

PS - there's some drone footage available of the remains being hauled in, and it's quite something

PPS - for anyone who enjoyed this tale and who didn't see the pinned thread on my profile, the ne plus ultra of this sort of cock-up remains the Venezuelan Navy's abortive attempt to subdue a cruise liner.

Essential reading for minesweeper captains: https://twitter.com/TheDreadShips/status/1246364316355514368?s=20