Pong Su extra: Taking the helm of the Pong Su

Nicholas Martin had a very important role in the Pong Su story, but it’s one he’s never talked publicly about until now.  Nicholas was a navy clearance diver who boarded the Pong Su with the SAS troops. After clearing the ship for improvised explosive devices, Nicholas took command of the bridge and working with one of the captured North Koreans steered the Pong Su back to Sydney Harbour.In this interview you’ll also hear about what it’s like to skipper a navy patrol boat in Australia’s northern water at the age of 20, and what it takes to be a clearance diver.  The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays. If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend. Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: [email protected] )Executive Producer - Rachael DexterNarrative Consultant - Kate Cole-AdamsConsulting Producer - Siobhan McHughMusic & Composition - Vicki HansenSound design & mixing - John GreenfieldScript translations - Yan ZhuangProduction assistance - Margaret GordonHead of Audio - Tom McKendrickSupport the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.