[OCCASparky]

Leaving port? Bridge crew or lookouts getting bounced around on the sail, or were these guys actually IN the water?

[L98Fiero]

"They were among four crewmen washed overboard while working on the outside casing..."

Wondering what they were doing to the hull while underway?

[tomcorn]

Sounds like they were hull techs and the vessel wasn't underway at the time. A sudden unexpected high sea state and they got slammed into the hull and perhaps knocked unconscious.Doesn't take much aspirated sea water to kill you.

[PeteB570]

Condolences to the families.

Reads like they were doing "deck" work in rough seas. Cold water, rough seas and bouncing off the hull of a sub while tied to a safety line. Still odd that two would die. Somebody higher up may be in a bit of hot water.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Probably (trying to) secure the topside retractable cleats and bollards for underwater running.

Lots of line-handling eqpt on the 688's still must be secured and bolted down (or flipped over) manually, but usually, you can get it done relatively easily before you leave the shelter of the harbor itself.