Crews faulted in ship collisions
WASHINGTON — U.S. navy leaders are recommending a sweeping list of changes in sailor training, crew requirements and safety procedures to address systemic problems across the Pacific fleet that led to two deadly ship collisions this year that killed 17 sailors, according to a copy of the report obtained by the Associated Press.
A critical report scheduled to be released today calls for about 60 recommended improvements that range from improved training on seamanship, navigation and the use of ship equipment to more basic changes to increase sleep and stress management for sailors.
Another navy report released Wednesday concluded that three collisions and a ship grounding this year were all avoidable, and resulted from widespread failures by the crews and commanders who didn’t quickly recognize and respond to unfolding emergencies.
Navy leaders publicly acknowledged those failings in a congressional hearing last month.
The USS John S. McCain and an oil tanker collided near Singapore in August, leaving 10 U.S. sailors dead. And seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship collided off Japan. The USS Lake Champlain collided with a Korean fishing vessel in May and the USS Antietam struck bottom near a shoal in Tokyo Bay.
As a result of the two deadly accidents, eight top Navy officers, including the 7th Fleet commander, were fired from their jobs, and a number of other sailors received reprimands or other punishment that was not publicly released.
“We are a Navy that learns from mistakes and the Navy is firmly committed to doing everything possible to prevent an accident like this from happening again,” Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said in a statement Wednesday. “We will spend every effort needed to correct these problems and be stronger than before.”
Richardson ordered a comprehensive review of the accidents, led by Adm. Philip Davidson, head of the navy’s Fleet Forces Command. Davidson notes that many of the lessons learned can be applied across the navy. And he recommends the appointment of a senior navy officer to oversee the implementation of the recommended changes across the fleet, both in the Pacific and — where needed — around the world.
Proposed changes focused on five main areas: fundamental skills, teamwork, operational safety, assessment procedures and culture. Specifically, the recommendations include beefing up qualification standards for sailors who stand watch -- a key point of failure in the two deadly collisions. Others call for improved navigational skills and certifications for sailors, including better, more sophisticated training on radar, piloting, communications and other high-tech equipment.