Posted on 06/18/2017 8:24:58 AM PDT by ColdOne
The ACX Crystal, a container ship, collided with USS Fitzgerald, and seven U.S. sailors were found deceased inside a damaged berthing compartment.
“A number of Sailors’ bodies that were missing from the collision between USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and a merchant ship have been found,” the US 7th Fleet said in a news release on June 17, without specifying the number. However, CNN reported that all of the seven missing sailors’ bodies were tragically found in USS Fitzgerald’s flooded compartments.
The tragedy unfolded on June 16 and ignited a massive search effort by the Japanese Coast Guard and U.S. Navy. It’s not yet clear which ship was at fault and what caused the col
(Excerpt) Read more at heavy.com ...
Wasn’t there another “accident” just a few weeks ago involving a US Navy warship in this same region?
I don’t know where this guy got his info on track of the freighter.
https://twitter.com/thepacketrat/status/876151577857470464
A few months before the Iraq war in 2003, there was a house-cleaning of the senior ranks of the Navy. A bunch of Clinton-era commanders were relieved of their duties, IIRC.
And where in the course of that alleged track did the collision take place?
I have not seen anything.
If they knew their autopilot was having problems and failed to observe, Neglect will cost the The ACX Crystals operators financially and some jail time is in order.
Hard to understand how this accident could have happened with the electronics we have today unless someone was asleep at the helm. I understand a big ship can’t turn on a dime, but the crew should have been on alert when the container ship was fairly close.
When we are out in poor visibility in our small boat, we always monitor our radar for other boats in the vicinity.
A deliberate ramming can’t be ruled out.
For sure the USN warship would be in radio comms with the other ship after observing its erratic track on AIS.
Possible that a voice commo snafu caused the collision, “I thought you said YOU were turning to starboard!?” That kind of thing.
Or, the 3rd mate on duty at the time on the ACX Crystal might have deliberately miscommunicated his intention. “Don’t worry, I’m turning to port.” He then turns to starboard.
Nothing much can be done in the last 30-60 seconds, if each side has mistaken the maneuvering intentions of the other.
Here’s what I know. Every US warship has radar and should have known the merchant ship was on a dangerously close track. The officer of the deck on watch should have been able to manuver the ship out of danger. In an era of terroism in which NAVY ships have been targeted, I’m sure there are fixed policies about keeping a safe distance from any ships.
2. Most merchant ships today of any size also have radar. Someone should have known they were approaching another ship on a collision course and taken proactive action to avoid the collision.
We are forced to conclude that sailors in command of both ships were asleep at the wheel.
Could this be what you are thinking of?
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Fire one, aye, sir ...
Anyone know: who/what owns/operates this vessel?
No, it was a collision, but I don’t think with two ships. I think one was an American Navy ship & maybe a dock or something?
According to Maritime Bulletin, “Container ship ACX CRYSTAL though Philippines-flagged, said to be operated by Japanese NYK.
The ACX Crystal sails under the flag of the Philippines, and its home port is Manila, according to MarineTraffic.
The Nippon Yusen Kaisha company lists a vessel schedule for ACX Crystal showing multiple stops in Japan. One of the world’s oldest and largest shipping companies, NYK was founded in 1885 with a fleet of 58 steamships. NYK says on its website that ACX Crystal is nine years old.
Maritime records have previously listed the ship as being registered to Sinbanali Shipping, Inc. The container ship was built in South Korea.
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