Commander dismissed after US Navy ship collided off Japan
WASHINGTON: The commander of a US Navy ship that collided with a Philippine-flagged cargo ship off Japan, killing seven American seamen, will be relieved of duty and several other sailors face punishment, a senior admiral said Thursday.
Among those being disciplined from the crew of the USS Fitzgerald are its commanding officer, executive officer and senior enlisted sailor, who will all be relieved of their duties aboard the ship, said Admiral Bill Moran, the vice chief of naval operations.
“They will be detached from the ship for cause, which (means) we’ve lost trust and confidence for their ability to lead in those positions and they will not return to the ship,” Moran told reporters.
Seven sailors drowned in their sleeping berth when the USS Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal in a busy shipping channel off Japan’s coast early on June 17.
Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin, who heads the Navy’s 7th Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan has notified one sailor of his or her punishment and the rest would likely be informed by the end of Friday. About a dozen sailors are expected to be disciplined in total.
“If it’s clear to (Aucoin) that some members of that crew should no longer be doing this line of work, it’s time to move them on, it’s time to take accountability actions,” Moran said.
Moran said the sailors could face further punishments later one, depending on the outcome of various ongoing probes.
“I’m not telling they will or they won’t. It’s just we are not done with the investigation,” Moran said. — AFP