Bodies of sailors found in flooded compartments on USS Fitzgerald
- 7 years ago
YOKOSUKA, JAPAN — The bodies of sailors who were missing after a container ship collided with the USS Fitzgerald on Saturday have been found in flooded berthing cabins.
According to the BBC, the 10,000-ton guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the 29,000-ton ACX Crystal container ship some 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka at about 2:30 local time on Saturday.
The container ship, which weighs significantly more than the Fitzgerald and measures 200 feet longer, plowed into the destroyer and severely damaged its starboard side, CNN reported. Berthing cabins where 116 sailors were sleeping were among the compartments that were flooded.
Marine tracking data show the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal performed a sudden 180-degree turn in the high-traffic shipping lane shortly before the crash.
The cause of the collision was unclear. However, a vessel is supposed to give way to another on its starboard side under international maritime rules. Hence, the damage on the starboard side of the destroyer might indicate the container vessel had the right of way.
According to the Japanese Coast Guard, about 400 vessels pass through the shipping lane every day and three major accidents occurred in the area over the past five years.
According to the BBC, the 10,000-ton guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the 29,000-ton ACX Crystal container ship some 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka at about 2:30 local time on Saturday.
The container ship, which weighs significantly more than the Fitzgerald and measures 200 feet longer, plowed into the destroyer and severely damaged its starboard side, CNN reported. Berthing cabins where 116 sailors were sleeping were among the compartments that were flooded.
Marine tracking data show the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal performed a sudden 180-degree turn in the high-traffic shipping lane shortly before the crash.
The cause of the collision was unclear. However, a vessel is supposed to give way to another on its starboard side under international maritime rules. Hence, the damage on the starboard side of the destroyer might indicate the container vessel had the right of way.
According to the Japanese Coast Guard, about 400 vessels pass through the shipping lane every day and three major accidents occurred in the area over the past five years.