Mapping the ACX Crystal's collision with the USS Fitzgerald using publicly available info

Vessel of Interest Websit ^ | June 17, 2017 | Steffan Watkins

[The Klingon]

Per the USNavy's 7th Fleet public affairs office; 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.

The merchant vessel was the Filipino-flagged ACX Crystal container-ship (IMO:9360611) and she did have her AIS transponder on at the time of the incident.

From the news footage below you'll notice an area of severe damage which looks to me to be from an impact at a perpendicular angle, and not a grazing strike, since there is no scraping or dragging down the length of the USS Fitzgerald. I'm not suggesting the impact was deliberate, only that the vessels would have deflected if they had hit with a glancing strike, where to me it looks like the bow of the Crystal embedded itself for a short period in the USS Fitzgerald. I originally thought the USS Fitzgerald was stationary before the impact, but I've since changed my mind, since I've been told that there would be no operational reason to be stationary near an area of high traffic, on a moonless night. Valid point. Then if she wasn't stationary, why was she crossing the path of the shipping lane and how didn't they notice the 30,000 Ton ship on a collision course with them?

[Mr.Unique]

The skipper and nav will definitely be in front of a board of inquiry and chances are pretty good that one or both will find career at an end...

That, or they will get their dream shot. They'll get sent up against the best. These characters are going to Top Gun.

[TXnMA]

"Does it suggest a turn to port (left turn) by the USS Fitzgerald to avoid the collision?"

~~~~~~~~~~

I expect it does. I've done a lot of failure analysis, and I'm analyzing the damage on both ships to see if it reveals anything re their relative motions during and after collision.

Notably, the damage is high up on the ACX Crystal (which should be significantly "taller" than the "low-freeboard Fitzgerald. And, the damage is low down on the Fitz -- suggesting that either (or both) of the following occurred:

1. Prior to collision, the Crystal reversed engines -- causing the ship to "squat" or "nose-dip" (the bow "dived" or depressed downward toward the sea surface).

2. Prior to and during collision, the Fitzgerald was "heeled over" due to a hard avoidance turn to port. That would have raised its main deck to better match with the "notch" in the Crystal's stem. Also, it would have exposed a deeper underwater section of her bottom to damage by the underwater "ram-like" forward projection of the Crystal's bow.

If anyone who reads this can help get scale elevation profiles of both ships, that could help put the above analysis on a quantitative basis...

~~~~~~~~~

Bottom line: I now envision a brief, low relative speed, glancing collision, with the ACX Crystal's bow deflecting to starboard (as shown in the AIS data) -- and the (entire) USS Fitzgerald deflecting (displacing) to port.

[crz]

Thanks. What I do know is that he said he had something to do with a plane.

I have seen some information that CX was a designation of specialists that they did not know where the hell to put them. Like intel, topo maps etc. So you might be on track more than anyone since he said he knew Halsey. Am trying to find out as much as I can.

He retired with over 30 years in about 1960 as a senior chief and at about the age of abt 58. Pretty old hey? All I know is that he would say he wouldnt put up with anything from anyone other than his immediate officer at the end of his time in.

[TXnMA]

"You navigation map does not show the USS Fitzgerald’s course at point B. For a collision point it has to show both ships at the same point."

As far as I've been able to determine, the Navy does not publish AIS data on its vessels. The Fitz' position (for now) will have to be determined by AIS data on the Crystal and/or on damage analysis of both ships...

The proposed points of collision are estimated based on time and behavioral (course, speed) changes by the ACX Crystal -- (the only AIS data we currently have)...

[crz]

You know the picture of the signing? The big one where it took in nearly the whole area? He pointed out where he was on the bridge as he watched it.

After it was all over, he said there was a drunken party to end all.

[crz]

Do not know if this is accurate or not. I do know that I asked my cousin what the hell he did and she said he wouldnt talk about it.

http://uniform-reference.net/insignia/usn/usn_ww2_enl_specialist.html

[rlmorel]

Was that the one back in 1975 leaving Vietnam with the refugees and orphans on it?

[rlmorel]

I love that picture. Every time I look at it, I feel the weight of history on it.

[rlmorel]

I am guessing when the collision occurred, the Fitgerald rode up on that bow protuberance, which also caused the bow of the Crystal to ride down on the superstructure of the Fitzgerald.

Can’t see the damage below the waterline, but I’ll bet when we do see it after it gets into drydock, we will understand why there was significant flooding.

[rlmorel]

"...Bottom line: I now envision a brief, low relative speed, glancing collision, with the ACX Crystal's bow deflecting to starboard (as shown in the AIS data) -- and the (entire) USS Fitzgerald deflecting (displacing) to port..."

That is precisely how I see it.

[wastoute]

No, Germany.

[LonePalm]

The original phrase is "Things that go bump in the night." It is in the form of a reading and response in the Anglican Litany.

Like my father before me, I was a drove a ship around for a time. Him in the Korean War, me in the Cold War, both in the Atlantic.

It is very good training in attention to detail and keeping the big picture in confusing situations.

"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[rlmorel]

Ah...when you said that, it occurred to me I had no idea how many we had lost over the years. When I checked Wikipedia, it looks like five were lost catastrophically, one was never flown again as a cargo lifter (though it flew), one was sent to Davis-Montham for spare parts, and one was converted to a newer designation in the repair process.

Amazing aircraft.

I think I saw the one you referred to...ugh. The thrust reverse mechanism deployed in flight, but...four crew apparently survived. Pretty amazing anyone did.

[Bull Snipe]

Thanks

[jonrick46]

You give a good analysis.

[xone]

That raises a BIG question: Did the USS Fitzgerald radio in a report of the collision? If so, at what time was that report made?

Making this call does what to help the situation? Last thing on a long list of requirements.

[TXnMA]

"Making this call does what to help the situation? Last thing on a long list of requirements."

Agreed that the Fitzgerald's crew had their hands full with damage control and medical/search emergencies. Also, it has been reported that the Fitz' radio room was put out of commission by the damage.

The benefit to the situation would have been clarification of the time (and location) of collision. The long-delayed report by the crew of the ACX Crystal was so late that, for most of a day, the reported position of the collision was after the Crystal had done all her "Crazy Ivan" maneuvering. Worst of all, from that point, she accelerated away -- looking like a "hit and run" without stopping to render aid. That led to much speculation re a deliberate attack -- which confused even me.

Finally -- sorting out the time put the collision at the point where the Crystal began her wild maneuvers -- and clearly showed that she did return (albeit nearly an hour late) to the scene of the crash to offer aid and radio a (delayed) report.

A timely report by the Fitzgerald (with an accurate"Zulu" [UTM] time of collision) instead of "local time", as (belatedly) reported -- would have clarified matters considerably.

[TXnMA]

Thank you! And, apologies for being a bit snarkish with my first reply.

I'd just come in from burying our 13-year-old, 130 lb family dog -- and had gotten my tractor stuck in the process of digging his grave... But that doesn't excuse rudeness, so -- my apologies!

[TXnMA]

"I am guessing when the collision occurred, the Fitgerald rode up on that bow protuberance, which also caused the bow of the Crystal to ride down on the superstructure of the Fitzgerald."

Thanks!! I'd not considered the up/down forces on that protrusion!

Just shows the benefit of collaborative discussion -- instead of playing "NIGYYSOB"* (aka "Gotcha!") -- as seems to be the norm, here...

~~~~~~~~~

*Berne, Eric, "Games People Play: The Psychology of Human Relationships.", 1964

[rlmorel]

I am going to check that link out tonight...

I gather from reading a few of your posts that you have knowledge and experience with accident reports and such.

I used to be a Aviation Machinists Mate in the USN, and I used to read the monthly bulletins and magazines that game out that were dedicated to mishap and accident reporting (I remember there was a Navy publication that had a cartoon character “Grandpa Dave” who was always violating NATOPS procedures)

In reading all of those over the years, and accident reports of all kinds, the depressingly constant factor in nearly every single incident is either simply human error, or a minor mechanical issue that is wildly exacerbated by human error.

This whole thing just reeks of human error to me.