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US navy destroyer collides with merchant ship off coast of Japan US navy destroyer collides with merchant ship off coast of Japan
(35 minutes later)
A US navy destroyer has suffered some flood and was left unable to operate under its own power after colliding with a merchant vessel southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, the navy said on Friday. A US navy destroyer has suffered some flooding and was left unable to operate under its own power after colliding with a merchant vessel southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, the navy said on Friday.
In a statement, the navy said the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel 56 nautical miles south-west of Yokosuka and the extent of injuries to US personnel “is being determined.“ In a statement, the navy said the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel 56 nautical miles south-west of Yokosuka and the extent of injuries to US personnel “is being determined.”
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the destroyer had suffered damage, that there was some flooding, and that it could not operate on its own power. The US 7th Fleet said on Twitter that the ship would return to Yokosuka, and that tugboats had been sent to assist it. Initially it said that no casualties had been reported, but later said that a medical evacuation was being co-ordinated.
Japan’s NHK public television website said that the commercial vessel is a Philippines container ship. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK showed aerial footage of the destroyer, which had a large dent in the right side of the ship.
The Navy said it had requested the assistance of the Japanese Coast Guard. Images broadcast by NHK showed the U.S. ship has been struck on its starboard side next to its Aegis radar arrays behind its vertical launch tubes.
No apparent damage could be seen from the images below the waterline although damage on the deck and to part of the radar appeared significant.
NHK said that the commercial vessel is a Philippines container ship. A spokesman for the Philippines coast guard said he had heard of the accident but had no details since it was not in Philippine waters.
The US n avy said it had requested the assistance of the Japanese Coast Guard.
Such incidents are rare.Such incidents are rare.
In May, the U.S. Navy’s USS Lake Champlain collided with a South Korean fishing vessel but both ships were able to operate under their own power. In May, the US navy’s USS Lake Champlain collided with a South Korean fishing vessel but both ships were able to operate under their own power.
Situated at the approach to Tokyo bay, Yokosuka and the waters to its south are a busy commercial waterway plied by commercial vessels sailing to and from Japan*s two biggest container ports in Tokyo and Yokohama.
More details soon...More details soon...