Japanese news outlet NHK reports that seven US Navy ship members have not been accounted for, citing the Japanese Coast Guard, following a crash between the USS Fitzgerald and a massive 29,000 ton-Philippine merchant ship.
A crash between the US Navy destroyer and the ACX Cyrstal container vessel caused the warship to start taking on water.
The ship just underwent $21 million in repairs and upgrades in February, according to Stars and Stripes. The Fitzgerald was part of the USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group that has been engaged in training drills with the USS Carl Vinson First Carrier Strike Group near the Korean Peninsula along with crews from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
One has to ask how it was the US Navy destroyer, which is vastly more maneuverable, having all manner of radar type equipment would not be able to avoid a collision with a container ship. And I've yet to see an image of the container ship... Should anyone notice one leave a link?
The ship just underwent $21 million in repairs and upgrades in February, according to Stars and Stripes. The Fitzgerald was part of the USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group that has been engaged in training drills with the USS Carl Vinson First Carrier Strike Group near the Korean Peninsula along with crews from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.
The ship is listing according to CNN
Published on Jun 16, 2017UPDATE: 7 US crew members missing. URGENT: The USS Fitzgerald, a 505-foot destroyer that carries the motto "Protect Your People," struck a merchant vessel at approximately 2:30 a.m. local time on June 17. about 56 miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, on Friday.
The U.S. military says a Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan and says there have been injuries.In a brief written statement, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii said the Navy has requested assistance from the Japanese Coast Guard.Video taken by Japanese news outlet NHK showed the ship listing, with damage visible above the waterline.It said Friday that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant ship 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. A U.S. defence official said there is flooding in three compartments of the Fitzgerald and there were injuries.Pacific Fleet said the extent of injuries and damage to the Fitzgerald are “being determined,” and the incident is under investigation.