A routine journey turned into an unexpected maritime incident when the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and a merchant ship, the Besiktas-M, collided near Port Said, just off the coast of Egypt.
Despite the alarming nature of the event, officials confirmed that neither vessel sustained significant damage, and no injuries were reported.
What Happened?
The collision took place late Wednesday evening as both ships navigated through busy waters near the port.
While initial reports suggested no damage, images from the scene showed visible marks on one side of the aircraft carrier.
Fortunately, the Navy confirmed that the ship’s propulsion systems remained fully operational, and there was no flooding aboard the vessel.
A defense official clarified that the 617-foot merchant ship Besiktas-M was also unaffected by the incident, with its crew remaining unharmed.
However, the exact cause of the collision remains unclear, prompting the military to launch a formal investigation into the matter.
Possible Causes and Congested Waters
The accident occurred in an area near the Suez Canal, one of the busiest and most strategically important waterways in the world.
Experts note that the region often experiences heavy maritime traffic, which can leave little room for maneuvering.
A U.S. defense official told CNN that this congestion could have played a role in the mishap.
Carl Schuster, a former U.S. Navy captain and instructor at Hawaii Pacific University, emphasized how restricted seaways like the Suez Canal can create dangerous scenarios for large vessels.
He explained that both ships require about a nautical mile to come to a full stop, making quick course corrections challenging.
Schuster also pointed out that misjudging another ship’s path, slow decision-making, or minor navigational errors could have led to the aircraft carrier having limited options to avoid impact.
A Look at the Ships’ Journeys
The USS Harry S. Truman, a nuclear-powered, 1,100-foot aircraft carrier, is typically stationed in Virginia but has been deployed to the Mediterranean and the Middle East since September.
Just a week before the collision, it had made a port call in Souda Bay, Greece.
On the other hand, the Besiktas-M, a Panamanian-flagged merchant ship, had passed through the Suez Canal shortly before the incident.
According to ship tracking data from MarineTraffic, it was en route to Romania when its course intersected with that of the U.S. warship, leading to the unexpected crash.
Similar Incidents in U.S. Naval History
While rare, collisions involving U.S. aircraft carriers and commercial vessels have happened before.
The last recorded instance took place over two decades ago on July 22, 2004, when the USS John F. Kennedy struck a sailing vessel in the Persian Gulf.
More recently, in 2017, two separate collisions involving U.S. Navy destroyers and commercial ships resulted in tragic consequences.
In June of that year, the USS Fitzgerald collided with a cargo ship near Japan, followed by a deadly incident in August when the USS John S. McCain struck a tanker off the coast of Singapore, killing 10 sailors.
What’s Next?
With an official investigation underway, experts will be looking into what exactly led to this close call near Port Said.
Factors such as navigation errors, communication breakdowns, or mechanical issues could all be examined.
In the meantime, the USS Harry S. Truman is expected to continue its operations in the region, while naval authorities will likely review safety protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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