U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier Collides with Merchant Vessel in Mediterranean Sea
A United States Navy aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, collided with a merchant vessel, the Besiktas-M, in the Mediterranean Sea near a port in Egypt shortly before midnight on Wednesday. The Truman, a Nimitz-class carrier, had been operating in the Red Sea since December 14th, helping to launch attacks in Yemen against Houthi militias.
Fortunately, there were no reports of flooding or injuries aboard the Truman. The Navy confirmed that the ship's propulsion systems, powered by two onboard nuclear reactors, were unaffected and remained in a safe and stable condition. An investigation into the cause of the collision is underway.
The Besiktas-M, a bulk carrier built in 2003 and sailing under the Panamanian flag, was also unharmed in the incident. The ship was traveling from the port of Aqaba in Jordan to Constanta, a port city in Romania on the Black Sea. There were no injuries reported among the crew of the Besiktas-M.
8 Comments
Marishka
It’s hard not to see this as another example of US military arrogance risking lives and livelihoods.
Pupsik
This is unacceptable — a mistake like this shows a lack of coordination that affects international shipping lanes.
Marishka
The fact that such a giant ship can have a collision makes me worry about the safety of military operations.
Pupsik
The prompt and open communication by the Navy is something to respect — keeping the public informed is crucial.
Marishka
The collision is yet another reminder that huge military hardware is not immune to operational mistakes.
Matzomaster
The Navy should be held to a higher standard — no collision should ever be this close to causing more harm.
Rotfront
It’s important to remember that incidents like these help improve operational safety for the future.
Raphael
Instead of careful planning, it appears there was reckless maneuvering that put everyone at risk.