In brief
A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, was involved in a collision with a merchant ship near Port Said, Egypt, on Wednesday. The carrier, part of U.S. Central Command and recently operating in the Red Sea, had been launching airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the crew of either vessel, and the Truman’s nuclear-powered propulsion systems remained operational. The Navy is currently investigating the incident. This collision raises concerns given past incidents with Navy vessels, which led to significant safety reforms.
The U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, collided with a commercial vessel off the coast of Egypt on Wednesday night, according to Navy officials. The incident occurred near Port Said while the ship had been deployed under U.S. Central Command since December 14, primarily involved in conducting airstrikes against Houthi militia in Yemen.Reports indicate that the collision did not result in flooding or injuries aboard the Truman. The Navy confirmed that the ship's nuclear-powered propulsion systems were in a "safe and stable condition." The investigation into the incident is ongoing.The commercial vessel involved in the collision was identified as the Besiktas-M, a Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier built in 2003. It was en route from Aqaba in Jordan to Constanta in Romania. Vessel Tracker reported no injuries to the crew of the merchant ship.This incident marks a deviation from the Navy's recent track record regarding collisions with commercial ships. Previous notable incidents occurred in 2017, leading to tragic outcomes where 17 sailors lost their lives due to navigational errors deemed avoidable. These incidents prompted significant internal reviews and safety protocols within the Navy, including a stand-down of all ships and changes in leadership within the Pacific Fleet.The U.S. Navy will aim to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the Truman's collision to prevent future occurrences and maintain operational safety.
