Jellyfish Take On U.S. Warship (USS Ronald Reagan)

[matcom]

<snip>

THE USS Ronald Reagan can single-handedly take on a nation's armed forces but met its match in Moreton Bay's jellyfish.

The slimy invertebrates were being sucked into the 97,000 tonne ship at such a rate generators were constantly switched over and local fire crews placed on stand-by as the creatures disabled full on-board capacities.

In June 2004 a P&O cruise liner was stranded in Brisbane after a school of jellyfish also blocked the engines' water intake vent.

The world's largest aircraft carrier was due to leave Brisbane at 8am today after the 6000 crew enjoyed five days of shore leave.

The jellyfish have exposed the giant ship's weakness, a humble button, screw or piece of litter can bring the 332-metre behemoth to a standstill.

Under the FOD, or foreign object damage protocol, any alien object can ruin the ship's intricate workings or endanger the take-off or landing of one of the ship's 80 fighter planes.

So a general alert is activated for an all-hands-on-deck search, in the form of an emu parade, to ensure safety.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17953221-13762,00.html

[underpants]

1. emu parade? is that like a police call?

So a general alert is activated for an all-hands-on-deck search, in the form of an emu parade, to ensure safety.

[Misunderestimator]

2. An EMU Parade:

:D