UPDATE - USS Fitzgerald involved in collision

US Navy web site ^ | 16-June-2017

[topher]

tory Number: NNS170616-20Release Date: 6/16/2017 4:57:00 PM

From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) was involved in a collision with a merchant vessel at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time, June 17, while operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.

As of this time, there have been two patients requiring medical evacuation. One was Cmdr. Bryce Benson, Fitzgerald's commanding officer, who was transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka and is reportedly in stable condition. A second MEDEVAC is in progress. Other injured are being assessed. There are seven Sailors unaccounted for; the ship and the Japanese Coast Guard continues to search for them.

Although Fitzgerald is under her own power, USS Dewey (DDG 105) got underway this morning as well as several U.S. Navy aircraft, and will join Japanese Coast Guard and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters, ships and aircraft to render whatever assistance may be required.

"U.S. and Japanese support from the Navy, Maritime Self Defense Force and Coast Guard are in the area to ensure that the Sailors on USS Fitzgerald have the resources they need to stabilize their ship. As more information is learned, we will be sure to share to it with the Fitzgerald families and when appropriate the public. Thank you for your well wishes and messages of concern. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Fitzgerald crew and their families," said Adm. John Richardson, Chief of Naval Operations.

"Right now we are focused on two things: the safety of the ship and the well-being of the Sailors," said Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. "We thank our Japanese partners for their assistance."

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from U.S. Pacific Fleet, visit www.cpf.navy.mil.

[SamAdams76]

Why is it that the Daily Mail always has stunning pictures and better coverage than any U.S. rag?

[T-Bird45]

I’m constantly left asking that same question, Sam. Most innocent conclusion: a native lack of curiosity. Most guilty conclusion: a general malaise of journalistic integrity.

[USNBandit]

Looking at the ship’s damage he could have been in his at sea cabin, located close to the bridge. Night steaming orders for the bridge crew will
often include a standing order to wake up the Captain for any vessel traffic within a specific distance.

[jpsb]

You are correct I misread the situation. If you are on a starboard tack you have the right of way and if you get hit in a crossing you will get hit on the port side. If we had a delete I would have deleted my comment since it was wrong.

In a over taking situation the vessel beening over taken has the right of way. IIRC, it has been a long time since I raced sailboats. And of course there is always constrained by draft.

In heavy fog the container vessel should have reduced power to steerage only. 15 kts in heavy fog is crazy. I image then DG was at steerage speed and unable to react when the fast moving container vessel appeared out of the fog.

[blueunicorn6]

Look at the story from the British newspaper.

The cargo ship was making some pretty erratic moves just prior to the collision.

The photos also show that this wasn’t a “T-Bone” crash. I would call it a “glancing” crash.

[KC Burke]

Now, I can admit that there is plenty the the container ship could have been doing that would have put them in the wrong or contributory. In either case, the Navy will come down on the Officer on Deck and the Captain as at fault. Such a thing cannot be allowed to occur.

[T. P. Pole]

On that page is a plot of the container ship’s route. That sure looks screwy. Funny u-turn and zagging. What’s up with that?

[TXnMA]

IIRC, the vessel on the right, and the slower, less maneuverable vessel (both of which fit the container ship) has the right-of-way.

Based on the above, it would appear that the Fitzgerald was in the wrong, and crossed in front of the vessel with the right-of-way.

~~~~~~~~~~~

However...

The container ship was not just plodding steadily along on its planned course from Nagoya to Tokyo:

In fact, the maneuvering of the ACX Crystal was so bizarre as to indicate a deliberate collision maneuver:

From the location and direction of the damage, the Fitzgerald was sailing smoothly northeastward toward Yokosuka, — and landward of the ACX Crystal — when the ACX Crystal rammed it — traveling on a directly landward course.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is difficult to imagine a huge container ship making two sharp reversals of course, and hard , sharp turn to port — without deliberate intent to ram.

[NFHale]

Because their agenda is different than our media's agenda.

Our media is more "foreign" than anything else. They truly are a fifth column subversive organization at this point - just an extension of the democrat criminal organization.

Our media sucks and has a willing lip-lock on the democrats' Love Pork Chop.

They're about as reliable as a broadcast from Joseph Goebbels... and about as accurate.

[Enchante]

That is one absolutely crazy path, especially for a large ship. WTH was going on there???!!

[mewzilla]

Wow. That is weird. Could the merchant vessel have been in kind a holding pattern waiting for dock space at its destination? Would burn fuel to do that, but a port wouldn’t want ships stacked up, so to speak, right outside it, would it?

Or could the merchant vessel have been off loading or taking on some illicit cargo during that u-ey?

[central_va]

In peacetime thee is no reason to steer erratically like that.

[mewzilla]

Were there any other US or Japanese naval vessels in the area, anyone know?

[mewzilla]

Way out there, but could the crew of the destroyer have been given orders to interdict the merchant vessel...?

[central_va]

probably not since co in cabin

[mewzilla]

Could the merchant vessel have been dumping cargo...?

[mewzilla]

Well, FWIW, we know what’s been reported. We don’t know how much of what’s been reported is true.

[central_va]

Navy vessels do not do interdicting of cargo vessels unless they ask for help. Contraband is the Coast Guard thing.

[Cementjungle]

This is probably an incredibly stupid, tinfoil-hatted question, but after looking at that damage, could the merchant vessel have intended to hit our vessel?

A freighter trying to hit Navy Destroyer would be about as smart as trying to rob a gun store armed with only a knife.

Besides, a Navy Destroyer should have never allowed another ship to be in this position in the first place.

[Robe]

Container ship course changes prior to the impact...looks like he was lost or trying to find the correct approach