Search and Rescue Underway for Missing Sailors
Seven U.S. sailors are missing after The USS Fitzgerald, a 505-foot Navy destroyer, collided with a merchant ship southwest of Yokosuka, Japan early Saturday morning.
The ship was tugged back to Yokosuka Naval Base after experiencing flooding.
Meanwhile search and rescue efforts by U.S. and Japanese aircraft and boats were underway in the area where the vessels collided.
USS Fitzgerald crash: Race to find seven missing navy crew https://t.co/bKUTI9bxws
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) June 17, 2017
Several crew members were injured, including the officer in command of the Destroyer. The officer, Cmdr. Bryce Benson, was evacuated from the ship by helicopter to a nearby United States naval base and was in stable condition, the United States Seventh Fleet said in a statement.
The Navy said two other sailors had been evacuated by helicopter and were being treated for lacerations and bruises.
"Right now we are focused on two things: the safety of the ship and the well-being of the Sailors," Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a statement. "We thank our Japanese partners for their assistance."
The White House said President Donald Trump was briefed on the situation.
The Fleet said earlier that some flooding was reported on the Fitzgerald, but it remained under its own power although propulsion was limited. The Fleet said shortly after 2 p.m. Saturday Tokyo time that flooding had been stabilized.
Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, said in a statement: "As more information is learned, we will be sure to share to it with the Fitzgerald families and when appropriate the public. Thank you for your well wishes and messages of concern. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Fitzgerald crew and their families."
Since 1935, MOPS has protected the licenses and livelihoods of more than 80,000 deck and engineering officers, state and federal pilots and certified tankermen.
We cover USCG licensed officers operating aboard vessels of any size in every sector of the maritime industry. If you want a quote, give us a ring at 800-782-8902, ext. 3608 or 3302. Or fill out our online form and we'll email you a quote.