2 fatal ship collisions were preventable, Navy says
WASHINGTON – The Navy has determined that two deadly crashes involving destroyers earlier this year could have been prevented, according to a report released Wednesday.
“Both of these accidents were preventable and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents,” said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. “We must do better.”
The report details the events that led to the collision of USS Fitzgerald and ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan on June 17, and the crash of the USS John S. McCain and the merchant vessel Alnic MC Aug. 21. Seventeen sailors died in all.
The Fitzgerald crash resulted from small errors that accumulated and lack of adherence to sound navigational principles, according to the report. The accident with the McCain occurred because of “complacency” and “over confidence.”
The Navy has been firing officers and senior enlisted sailors from the ships involved and their leadership in the Seventh Fleet based in Japan. In September, Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander of Combined Task Force 70, and the commander of Destroyer Squadron 15, Capt. Jeffrey Bennett, were relieved due to “a loss of confidence in their ability to command.” Before their firing, the Navy also relieved Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, who had commanded the Seventh Fleet at the time of the crashes.
In August, the Navy fired the skipper of the Fitzgerald and two sailors who made up the ship’s leadership team for losing “situational awareness.” That collision killed seven.
The report assails the officers aboard the Fitzgerald for a host of failures leading up to the crash and its aftermath. It was the Fitzgerald, the report states, that was responsible for avoiding collisions on the crowded seas off Japan. The Crystal also was obligated to avoid accidents.
“In the 30 minutes leading up to the collision, neither Fitzgerald nor Crystal took such action to reduce the risk of collision until approximately one minute prior to the collision,” the report states.
The Fitzgerald officer responsible for safely driving the ship “exhibited poor seamanship by failing to maneuver as required, failing to sound the danger signal and failing to attempt to contact Crystal on bridge to bridge radio,” the report says. The report lays much of the blame on the ship’s commander. It also concludes that there were widespread breakdowns.
“The crew was unprepared for the situation in which they found themselves through a lack of preparation, ineffective command and control, and deficiencies in training and preparations for navigation,” the report concludes.
“The investigations found multiple failures that contributed to the incidents.”