approvals, National During February and March Parramattta, Anzac and Yarra undertook escort duty for HM Royal Yacht Britannia during the visit to Australia of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. Vessel position, logs and particulars for Ship HMAS PARRAMATTA at FleetMon.com, the global ship database. Asked whether the government may choose to later publicly disclose the incident as it has with previous encounters with the Chinese military, Mr Marles left open the possibility. HMAS Parramatta's current position, recent track, speed, course, next port destination, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more are available in the frigate tracker map below. [23] The upgrade will include the fitting of CEA Technologies' CEAFAR and CEAMOUNT phased array radars on new masts, a Vampir NG Infrared Search and Track system, and Sharpeye Navigational Radar Systems, along with improvements to the operations room equipment and layout. Parramatta is the oldest ship name in the Australian Navy and is the fourth RAN ship to bear the name. The ship's main armament comprises one Mark 45 capable of firing 20 rounds per minute, ship launched Mark 46 torpedoes and a Mark 41 vertical launch system for the Evolved Sea Sparrow missile. She was launched on 31 January 1959 by Lady Dowling, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling, RAN the then Chief of Naval Staff. HMAS Parramatta (II) served in World War II and was sunk by a German submarine in the Mediterranean on 27 November 1941 with the loss of 138 lives. [25], During late 2019 the frigate took part in efforts to enforce sanctions against North Korea as part of Operation Argos.[26]. https://www.fleetmon.com/vessels/hmas-parramatta_4444444_2005311/. The motto was thought to be appropriate in linking the badge design and Parramattas naval role. In early 2015, Parramatta was docked to undergo the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade. She returned to Sydney later that year. The vessel was moored in the river but broke adrift during a storm and ran aground and her wreck remains there to this day. Parramatta also has eight anti-ship/land attack canister launched harpoon missiles. HMAS Parramatta (III) was a River Class Destroyer Escort that served between 1961 and 1991. The stern section of Parramatta (I) mounted at Queens Wharf Reserve as a permanent tribute to the ship. Parramatta entering Jervis Bay in early 1984 against the backdrop of Point Perpendicular. degradation, Land . Parramatta (I) was present at the surrender of German New Guinea at Rabaul on 13 September 1914. HMAS Parramatta (I). HMAS Parramatta (IV) is the fifth of eight Anzac Class Frigates built for the Royal Australian Navy by Tenix Marine Systems, Williamstown, Victoria. Parramatta (I) was the first new ship launched for the Australian Navy followed by her sister ship HMAS Yarra (I). Built during the late 1930s, Parramatta operated in the Red Sea and Mediterranean during World War II. (II). A seaman of HMAS Parramatta (I) poses proudly in his uniform with cap ribbon clearly visible. Track Another Ship If you know another ship you want to track, enter the ship name or ship line name in the search box below. HMAS Parramatta (II) served in World War II and was sunk by a German submarine in the Mediterranean on 27 November 1941 with the loss of 138 lives. She was commissioned as HMS Parramatta at Greenock on 10 September 1910 under the command of Captain Frederick Tickell CMG CNF and departed Portsmouth on 19 September 1910 as a Royal Navy ship for the voyage to Australia, and proceeding via Suez in company with her sister ship Yarra and escorted by HMS Gibraltar, arrived at Broome, Western Australia, on 15 November, where the two destroyers passed to the control of the Australian Government. Later, in July, she steamed to Queensland waters taking part in fleet exercises in the Hervey Bay area. There are currently no links associated with this site. "Formal challenges have occurred, such as telling us that we're entering 'China's territorial waters'," a Defence figure familiar with the interactions said. our heritage, Supporting HMAS Parramatta (I) remained in New Guinea waters after the departure of the fleet (HMA Ships Australia (I), Melbourne (I) and Sydney (I) on 17 September 1914, and in company of Yarra (I) and Warrego (I) assisted in the consolidation of the Australian occupation of New Guinea and New Britain. The Australian Torpedo Boat Destroyer Flotilla at Brindisi, 1918. On 6 March 1919, in company of HMA Ships Melbourne, Huon, Yarra and Warrego, she sailed for Australia, joined by Swan and Torrens at Malta. Both vessels sustained minor damage but Parramatta's bow was holed necessitating repairs to be carried out at Garden Island Dockyard. Parramatta deployed to the Far East for the sixth time in 1967, and, on 5 March 1968, then under Commander F.R. "I won't go into details around that, other than to say that what our military does, what our navy, does in the South China Sea is routine," Mr Marles told the ABC from Washington DC. HMA Ships Parramatta (I) and Warrego (I) navigate the Sepik River New Guinea, December 1914. This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. That trip took the ship through the South China Sea and then the East China Sea past Taiwan, which include heavily militarised territory claimed by the Chinese. Environmental Trust, Awards and Note Parramatta's first pennant number F05 visible on her port side. HMAS Parramatta (1) was one of a number of vessels ordered for the Commonwealth's new naval forces in 1909, following the assimilation of the various colonial fleets' post Federation in 1901. Parramatta at sear c.1969 wearing her new bold pennant number on her bows. Except for a visit to Melbourne in May 1927, she remained in South Australian waters until April 1928, when she returned to Sydney, finally paying off on 20 April 1928. HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154) is an Anzac -class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She paid off at Sydney on 22 July 1919, recommissioned for a month (17 May 1920-13 June 1920) on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales in HMS Renown, and thereafter remained in Reserve at Sydney until October 1924. Bow and Stern salvaged and are now memorials in Sydney Harbour and Parramatta respectively. Share your AIS data and get your own live AIS traffic image of your area. framework, Understanding Cockatoo Docks and Engineering Co Ltd, Sydney, Lady Dowling, wife of the First Naval Member and Chief of Naval Staff. Ships named HMAS Parramatta are entitled to carry four battle honours:[1][2]. "HMAS Parramatta is currently undertaking a regional presence deployment, conducting a number of navy-to-navy activities with Australia's regional partners and participating in various maritime exercises," a departmental spokesperson said. Vessel served as blue metal storage facility & accommodation during Depression. The remains of HMAS Parramatta on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. This is evidenced by increased metal pitting in this zone. On September 14, 1914 AE1 and HMAS Parramatta (D55) departs Blanche Bay to patrol off Cape Gazelle at the eastern tip of East New Britain. Then select the ship from the available search results. park closures, fire and safety and weeds, Visit Following a brief refit at Garden Island Dockyard in Sydney, Parramatta began the new year working up in company with Yarra before again deploying for the Far East on 28 January 1964. In October 1968 the ship was sorely in need of maintenance and on her return to Australia she was again placed in refit at Williamstown at which time Commander P.M. Rees, RAN, assumed command. She again visited Japan before being relieved by HMAS Swan (III) and returning to Sydney on 20 October. Media links U-Boat Attack Logs Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor amazon.co.uk ( 38.25) Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases. [21], In November 2014, Parramatta and sister ship Stuart were deployed to shadow a Russian naval force operating in international waters off Australia during the 2014 G-20 Brisbane summit. The formal transfer took place at Sydney when the senior officer of the squadron, Captain B.S. In 1934, Parramatta blew ashore on the Hawkesbury River and became a total wreck. The ceremonial axe used to launch HMAS Parramatta (I), now in the collection of the Australian War Memorial. HMAS Parramatta (L 44) Australian Sloop If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us. [3][16][17], Parramatta was laid down at Williamstown, Victoria on 24 April 1999. HMAS Parramatta was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney on 3 January 1957. On her return to Sydney, Commander R.H. Perry, RAN, who has assumed command of the ship in November 1964, relinquished command to Commander J.A. Parramatta was subsequently sold to a Pakistani company and towed from Australia October 1991 to be broken up. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The wreck site of the former HMAS Parramatta (I) lies in shallow water within Cascade Gully in the Hawkesbury River, near its northern bank. Four ships of the Royal Australian Navy been named HMAS Parramatta, for the Parramatta River. Last week the ABC approached the Defence Department with a series of detailed questions about the Chinese military's interactions with HMAS Parramatta, but it declined to answer them. On June 28, the Australian warship then arrived in the Port of Sasebo, in the Nagasaki prefecture, after completing naval exercises with Japan's Self-Defence Force. The badge of Parramatta (I) (1916-1928) was a stark kangaroo. During the early months of these operations a patrol seldom passed without an enemy submarine being discovered and hunted, but as time went on the enemy was more rarely sighted until the patrol became routinely uneventful steaming. HMAS Parramatta (I); HMAS Parramatta (II), Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering at Govan, Scotland. activities in parks, Development Asia. Get the latest live position for the HMAS PARRAMATTA. Last week Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) announced it had "conducted a trilateral exercise with United States Ship Dewy and HMAS Parramatta in the East China Sea to East of Okinawa" between July 4 and 6. Parramatta is fitted with an advanced package of air and surface surveillance radars; omni-directional hull mounted sonar and electronic support systems that interface with the state-of-the-art 9LV453 Mk3E combat data system. quality research, Water HMAS Parramatta's seaboats speed away from the ship in the waters of Yap, Micronesia. HMAS Ballarat's current position, recent track, speed, course, next port destination, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more are available in the frigate tracker map below. 1970 saw the ship involved in a minor accident when on 28 February, while going astern having refuelled at Chowder Bay, Sydney, she collided with the Manly ferry Bellubera. This necessitated repairs being carried out in Singapore and she subsequently returned to Sydney, in company with HMAS Stuart, in January 1967. Share your knowledge with the community. Why is the ship I'm trying to track not updating. On 23 August they returned to Sydney for refit. The remainder of Parramatta's seagoing life was spent in Australian waters. To view our website correctly you need an up to date browser. alerts, About At the outbreak of World War I, Parramatta (I), with her sister ships Warrego (I) and Yarra (I), formed the destroyer component of the Australian Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Sir George E Patey, RAN. In November she took part in Exercise LEADLINE, off Malaysia, before detaching for Singapore where she replaced Yarra in the ANZUK force. List of ships with the same or similar names, "Navy Marks 109th Birthday With Historic Changes To Battle Honours", "Royal Australian Navy Ship/Unit Battle Honours", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMAS_Parramatta&oldid=1047051650, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 September 2021, at 19:09. licences, Heritage permits and On 15 October the families of Parramatta's crew welcomed the ship back to Sydney after an absence of six months with the FESR. "That may happen in the future again, but what we are focused on first and foremost is doing the activity because that's in our national interest. HMAS Parramatta undocking after her Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade at BAE Systems Henderson Shipyard, Western Australia. Launching of HMAS Parramatta (I) on 9 February 1910 by Mrs Asquith, wife of British Prime Minister Herbert Asquith. By April, Parramatta was again on her way 'Up Top' joining Stuart in May and participating, with other Commonwealth ships, in the large-scale exercise BERSATU PADU off the coast of Malaysia. Thenceforth Parramatta (I) was used to carry despatches and mails between Sebastapol and Constantinople. Keep an eye on all your vessels with My Fleet, Live Tracking in your browser or mobile app with FleetMon Explorer, Receive alerts on events for your port and vessels with My Alerts, Create zones and monitor your areas of interest with My Zones, Calculate the CO2 emission for arbitrary date ranges of a vessel, See a vessel's predicted route and estimated time of arrival, Check data regarding time of arrival and departure per Port & Vessel, Check which vessels enter a specific port in the future & the very next destination of a vessel, Check changes in draught, speed and location, Optimize your supply chain management - on water and land. The stern of the ship was later established as a naval memorial at Queens Wharf Reserve. guidelines, Current The domed building in the background is the Dolmabahce Mosque. Note the new location of her distinctive LWO radar aerial. protected areas, Park HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154) is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In July 1976 Parramatta was diverted to the Indonesian island of Bali to provide humanitarian relief following an earthquake which killed over 500 Balinese and injured another 3000. Then select the ship from the available search results. Real-time and current position of HMAS PARRAMATTA (Other Type, MMSI: 511654700) on ais live map is in Coral Sea with coordinates -22.96198 / 152.05447 and speed 14.6 knots as reported on 2018-11-20 21:48 by AIS live data. By mid-June 1915 the three destroyers reached Cairns and thereon began the return south patrolling and exercising en route. During her career, the frigate has been deployed to the Middle . For several months after her return to Sydney, Parramatta (I) remained on the Australian coast. . policies, Commercial HMAS Parramatta (U44) was a Grimsby class sloop of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Military sourcesclaim HMAS Parramatta has been closely tracked by the People's Liberation Army over recent weeks, including being followed by a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, a warship and multiple aircraft. ANNUALEX 19 is a bilateral exercise which further develops coordination and . All of the metal fabric shows evidence of extensive corrosion with the majority of fittings and fixtures (eg portholes) removed over the years. "Regional deployments form part of Australia's longstanding contribution to an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. One of ten warships built for the RAN and Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) based on the MEKO 200 design, Parramatta was laid down in 1999, launched in 2003, and commissioned into the RAN in 2003. Highlights of her second commission included a rare visit to the Peoples Republic of China in 1986 and participation in the 1986 Royal Australian Navy 75th Anniversary Naval Review and the Bicentennial Naval Salute in 1988. [22], Parramatta was docked in March 2015 to undergo the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade. Vessel position, logs and particulars for Frigate HMAS PARRAMATTA at FleetMon.com, the global ship database. The class comprises a dozen warships built to the standard with ten of these serving with the RAN and the remaining two with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). The internal spaces of the wreck are littered with miscellaneous plating, piping and introduced rubbish. Information will be published after a short review. Front page of a booklet advertising the Arrival of HMAS Yarra (I) and Parramatta (I) to Melbourne. In February 1966 Parramatta was selected to perform the role of flagship at the Hobart Regatta in Tasmania. In December all three ships proceeded up the Sepik River, and in January 1915 visited Morobe, Finschhafen and other points on the coast, cruising also to neighbouring island groups including the Admiralty Islands. Parramatta was built at Govan, Scotland in 1910. Discover the vessel's particulars, including capacity, machinery, photos and ownership. (Mike Breakspear Collection). The remains of HMAS Parramatta on the banks of the Hawkesbury River. parks passes and permits, For teachers, schools and community educators, National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council, A family and community friendly workplace, Requesting a review or lodging a complaint, Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation, Landfill Consolidation and Environmental Improvements, Resource Recovery Facility Expansion and Enhancement, HMAS Parramatta (Royal Australian Navy Website). Parramatta 'up top' in 1969 as part of the Far East Strategic Reserve. An Aboriginal poised on his right leg immersed in shallow water; right arm raised holding a spear and thereon impaled and entwined an eel. HMAS Parramatta Memorial. Vessel HMAS PARRAMATTA is a Other, Registered in Angola. and download data, Understanding [20], In October 2013, Parramatta participated in the International Fleet Review 2013 in Sydney. Early in 1965 she carried out her first successful firing of the new weapon in waters off the NSW coast before again deploying for the Far East. March 1966 saw the ship enter a three month long refit at Williamstown Naval Dockyard, Victoria, after which she rejoined the fleet on 24 June. The sloop was torpedoed by the German submarine U-559 on 27 November 1941, and sank with 138 of the 162 aboard. HMAS Parramatta (I) was the first ship commissioned into the Commonwealth Naval Forces (later to be named the Royal Australian Navy) on 10 September 1910. air quality data, Air HMAS Parramatta (I) leaving harbour, circa 1913-14. Climate Change Fund, Policy species, Wildlife Advantage, For The show of force comes at a time when China has been criticized for . On 10 March 1971, by then under the command of Commander PGN Kennedy, RAN, Parramatta sailed in company with HMAS Duchess for yet another tour of duty with the FESR. With the bow and stern sections removed in the 1970s, the remainder of the wreck retains significant form. A photograph taken from the observation balloon being towed by HMAS Parramatta (I), in the Adriatic Sea on 5 August 1918. HMAS Parramatta (I) was one of six River Class torpedo boat destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy during the period 1909-16. Proceeding via Malta and Gibraltar she reached Devonport on 14 January 1919. [11][3] Maximum speed is 27 knots (50km/h; 31mph), and maximum range is over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000km; 6,900mi) at 18 knots (33km/h; 21mph); about 50% greater than other MEKO 200 designs. Shortly afterwards she again entered Williamstown Naval Dockard for a prolonged refit. During WWI Parramatta saw initial service in German New Guinea and the western Pacific. vegetation, Pests Please take a second to. Parramatta was decommissioned on 11 January 1991 as the River Class Destroyer Escorts were replaced by the Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigates. HMAS Parramatta (I) was one of six River Class torpedo boat destroyers built for the Royal Australian Navy during the period 1909-16. reserves and protected areas, Climate Track HMAS Ballarat's Current Position In The Live Military Ship Tracker. and soil information, Soil Parramatta became the first vessel of the Royal Australian Navy, following its royal proclamation by King George V on 10 July 1911. In November while transitting the Malacca Strait Parramatta damaged her propellers following a grounding. monitoring and records, Native The former HMAS Parramatta (I) shipwreck has retained significant integrity despite the removal of the bow and stern sections. Photograph by Stirling Smith. Earlier this year the Defence Department revealed a Chinese J-16 jet fighter had flown close to an RAAF P-8 maritime surveillance plane during a routine patrol in the South China Sea. She was launched on 31 January 1959 by Lady Dowling, wife of Vice Admiral Sir Roy Dowling, RAN the then Chief of Naval Staff. HMAS Parramatta (U44), a Grimsby -class sloop commissioned in 1939, and sunk by U-559 off Tobruk on 27 November 1941 HMAS Parramatta (DE 46), a River-class destroyer escort commissioned in 1961 and decommissioned in 1991 HMAS Parramatta (FFH 154), an Anzac -class frigate commissioned in 2003 and active as of 2016 Battle honours On 17 October 1929 she was handed over to Cockatoo Dockyard for dismantling. In August she and Yarra searched unsuccessfully for the British tug Kowloon Docks which was reportedly in distress in a typhoon in the South China Sea. Defence has cited "operational security reasons" for not discussing an Australian warship's recent encounters with the Chinese military while sailing through international waters claimed by Beijing. It may not display this or other websites correctly. HMAS Parramatta commissioned at Sydney on 4 July 1961 under the command of Commander Guy Griffiths, DSC, RAN. FSS Independence steams alongside HMAS Parramatta (IV) as HMAS Parramattas embarked MH-60R Helicopter Warlock flies between the two ships in the waters of Yap, Micronesia. On Friday Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Bali, the first such face-to-face meeting at such a high level in almost three years. pollution, Air Last Update: Parramatta fires a Seacat missile during exercises in SE Asia in 1967. Current Location . maps, Sustainability Her hull was subsequently used as an accommodation vessel, on the Hawkesbury River, NSW, by the New South Wales Department of Prisons before being sold to Mr George Rhodes of Cowan as scrap. In February 1969 Parramatta again took part in the Hobart Regatta, renewing old acquaintences and making new friends in the Tasmanian capital. Later in the year Parramatta was equipped with the Seacat guided-missile system. On 27 April the Flotilla left Port Phillip on a cruise which included visits to Jervis Bay, Port Jackson, Port Stephens and points along the Barrier Reef. 2 x Mk32 Mod 5 triple mounted torpedo tubes, 1 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engine, 2 x MTU 12V 1163 diesel engines driving two controllable pitch propellers, Mk41 vertical launch system with Evolved Sea Sparrow missiles, 1 x 5 inch (127mm) Mk45 Mod 2 automatic fire gun, Vampir NG infra-red search and track system. Defence Minister Richard Marles, who is visiting the United States, also declined to comment when asked by the ABC about the recent encounters. Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Glasgow, Mrs Asquith, wife of the British Prime Minister. The HMAS Parramatta badge design was derived from the Parramatta City Council Seal in 1939. HMAS Parramatta, like her sister frigates HMA Ships Anzac, Arunta, Ballarat, Perth, Stuart, Toowoomba and Warramunga features a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion plant which enables the ship to sustain sprint speeds of greater than 27 knots and allows an operational range in excess of 6000 nautical miles at 18 knots. If you are reading this it means you have not yet registered. publications, Soil Create products with live, historical or predictive API endpoints, Recurring data packages directly from our API as CSV or XLS, One-time data packages from our API as CSV or XLS, Request terrestrial AIS data dating back to 2007 and satellite AIS data from 2013 onwards, Verification of indicative risk rating for vessels of your choice, Curated directory of thousands of maritime businesses, All account types and related features in an overview, Talk to us and together we'll find the right solution for you. The design is based on the German Meko 200 frigate. The warships are a localized variant of the . Many of those who gained their bridge watchkeeping certificates as junior officer in the FESR went on to attain command later in their careers. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. quality, Managing Get the details of the current Voyage of HMAS PARRAMATTA including Position, Port Calls, Destination, ETA and Distance travelled - IMO 0, MMSI 603654700, Call Sign Parramatta is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. to country, Protect ", "And then obviously, in terms of the management of the information around that activity, we're focused on the safety of our servicemen and women.". During one such attack, 16 November 1917, the Italian transport Orione had her stern blown off by an enemy torpedo. network, Search Share your knowledge with the community. heritage places, Cultures Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says strengthening the Australia-US alliance is the only way to "deter future employment in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, or elsewhere". The aboriginal translation of Parramatta means the place where the eels lie down. Both ships are dressed overall in recognition of HM Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Visit. HMAS Parramatta was laid down at Cockatoo Island Dockyard, Sydney on 3 January 1957. 147/151 George St, Parramatta NSW 2150 Mr Michael Kielty Secretary Phone: 0421 314 429 Contact NAAPM Name * First Last Phone Number Email * Comment or Message * Custom Captcha * 9 * 4 = The Parramatta (I) remains represent pre-Great War technology and materials for warship construction. The report will be sent to your email address within 12 hours after your payment has been completed. The ship's other defence systems include the Nulka active missile decoy system, offboard chaff and a torpedo countermeasures system. and learn, Connection On 20 April 1962 Parramatta joined her sister ship Yarra deploying to the Far East where the two ships relieved HMA Ships Quickmatch and Vampire in the Britsh Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. [11] A Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion machinery layout is used, with a single, 30,172-horsepower (22,499kW) General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine and two 8,840-horsepower (6,590kW) MTU 12V1163 TB83 diesel engines driving the ship's two controllable-pitch propellers. [1][3] Around the same time, the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) was looking to replace four Leander-class frigates; a deterioration in New Zealand-United States relations, the need to improve alliances with nearby nations, and the commonalities between the RAN and RNZN ships' requirements led the two nations to begin collaborating on the acquisition in 1987. HMAS Parramatta (I) crew members with the Australian Flag in Brindisi Harbour, 1918. During October and November she exercised with ships of the Royal Navy, the United States Navy and RAN in waters off the Philippines before visiting Japan for Rest and Recreation (R & R). [18] Parramatta was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation in 2007 for her efforts and conduct during this deployment. Conservation and manage, Search The addition of the eel was to link the badge design with the ship's name.
