Bodies of missing sailors found on stricken ship
YOKOSUKA, Japan Navy divers found the bodies of missing sailors Sunday aboard the stricken USS Fitzgerald that collided with a container ship in the busy sea off Japan, the Navy said.
Searchers gained access to the spaces that were damaged during the collision and brought the remains to Naval Hospital Yokosuka where they will be identified, the Navy said in a statement. Seven sailors had been missing, but Yoko Kato, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy in Yokosuka, said not all seven were recovered.
She didn’t say how many were found.
Japan’s coast guard officials said the sea and air search was still continuing at the site of the collision.
The Navy said the families were being notified and provided the support they need during “this difficult time.” The names of the sailors will be released after all notifications are made.
Sixteen hours following the predawn Saturday collision, the damaged destroyer was pumping out water as it limped back to its home port in Yokosuka Naval Base south of Tokyo by sunset Saturday, its crew lined up on deck. The Philippine-flagged container ship was berthed at Tokyo’s Oi wharf, where officials began questioning crew members about the cause of the crash.
The collision badly damaged Fitzgerald’s forward starboard side above and below the water line, causing significant damage and associated flooding to two berthing spaces, a machinery space and the radio room.
At least three other sailors — including the ship’s captain, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, were injured and required medical evacuation, according to the Navy’s 7th Fleet. Benson, a Green Bay native, was taken to the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. The other two sailors suffered lacerations and bruises. Others injured were treated aboard the ship, the Navy said.
Most of the more than 200 sailors aboard would have been asleep in their berths at the time of the collision.
It’s unclear what caused the collision. Conditions at the time were clear, though the area — about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka — is often busy with sea traffic.
Nippon Yusen K.K., the Japanese company operating the merchant vessel, said the 20-member Filipino crew aboard the ship was safe. The vessel did not appear to have any major damage.