Posted on 10/24/2008 12:28:53 PM PDT by GATOR NAVY
The destroyer Barry ran aground Thursday as it was preparing to dock at a port in the Black Sea, the Navy confirmed Friday.
The incident happened at about 10:30 a.m. local time, as the Norfolk-based ship was entering the Turkish port of Samsun.
The ship ran aground in silt as it was maneuvering in the port’s turning basin, about 200 yards from the pier. A harbor pilot was on board at the time, a Navy official said.
Tugs were able to free the ship with assistance from Turkish coast guard divers, and the vessel is currently moored at a Samsun pier.
Commercial divers conducted an initial assessment of the destroyer Friday and found no damage. A U.S. diving team is expected to do a follow-up inspection today.
Depending on the results, the ship will continue on its mission. The Navy also plans to investigate how the grounding happened.
The Barry left Norfolk in August to join a standing naval maritime group overseas and provide regional security. More recently, it has been operating on its own in the Black Sea, including a stop in the Georgian port town of Poti.
Thursday’s incident happened during a scheduled port visit.
Navigation by Braille is rarely career-enhancing.
Thanks for the lesson.
lol - yes it does. Didn't know about the pilot.
DDG-52, USS Barry
Well, I guess the Navy will be promoting a commander to captain early this year.
Inasmusch as it is a tin can, the Captain could have a problem.
One story I heard about but never knew if it was true was that some CO got his ship stuck on a reef and waited a day or two hoping the tide would lift him off. During that time apparently there was little or no communications with higher authority. Needless to say the tide didn't come but a replacement CO did. Of course, that depends if the story is true.
Let's hope that the same thing happens to the true destroyer "Barry", who's socialist ideals threaten to destroy what was once the greatest, most prosperous nation on earth.
Certainly the fact that a pilot was onboard will be considered in the investigation, it just won’t absolve the CO of his responsibility.
I’ve seen some pilots in some ports that scared the hell out of me. There are still many places in the world where it’s obvious that nepotism and/or bribery will still get one far.
Hmmm...
“Barry”....the “Destroyer”.....ran aground???
In a Black Sea port???
I doubt they would relieve the captain?
Shouldn’t be much if any damage done from running aground on silt (soft mud). And although the captain is ultimately responsible, it would seem reasonable enough to let the pilot do his work.
The only alternative would probably be to spend extra hours sending people out to sound the bottom before maneuvering in. And showing that you don’t trust the local pilot isn’t a good way to make friends on a port visit.
As long as they were keeping it reasonably slow, I should think the captain would be exonerated, although you can’t always second guess what the chain of command will come up with.
???
No, he was not at the helm, nor was any Navy officer. The helmsman was following the orders of the harbor pilot at the time.
You make some good points and I should also add that there are many otherwise competent pilots who are just plain unfamiliar with the handling characteristics of high powered warships. It’s a different ball game than a low speed diesel single screw bulk carrier.
It was USS Enterprise, coming home after an 8 month deployment with all the families waiting on the pier.
IIRC in that case it was determined that heavier than normal rains the previous winter had contributed to abnormal silting in the channel.
Not likely. But the Pilot {required} likely has a lot of explaining to do. BTW I think Chester Nimitz grounded a ship about mid career. Not always an unforgivable act but depends a lot on the circumstances.
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