sub and tanker collide

[gradywhite273]

U.S. Submarine Collides With Japanese Ship

AP
TOKYO (Jan. 9) - A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine collided with a Japanese oil tanker in the Straits of Hormuz, through which 40 percent of the world's oil supplies travel, officials said.

No one was hurt in the accident that happened Monday night in the 34-mile wide straits, which are bordered by Iran and Oman and serve as the entrance to the Persian Gulf.

Damage to the fast-attack USS Newport News submarine and the supertanker was light and there was no resulting spill of oil or leakage of nuclear fuel, officials from the U.S. Navy and the Japanese government said.

Both ships remained able to navigate, Navy officials said.

The bow of the submarine was traveling submerged when it hit the stern of the supertanker Mogamigawa as the vessels were passing through the Straits, causing minor damage to the Japanese vessel, the U.S. Navy and Japan's Foreign Ministry said. The Japanese government said it was informed of the crash by the Navy and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

The tanker, operated by Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., was able to continue to a nearby port in the United Arab Emirates, the statement said.

Commander Kevin Aandahl of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain confirmed there had been a crash and that there were no injuries aboard either ship. Aandahl said the submarine had surfaced and its crew was evaluating damage.

The Navy said the sub's nuclear propulsion plant was undamaged. The Newport News is based in Norfolk, Va., and is part of a U.S.-led multinational task force patrolling the Persian Gulf and nearby seas. It has a crew of 127.

The Mogamigawa was traveling from the Gulf to Singapore and was carrying a crew of eight Japanese and 16 Filipinos. It is expected to arrive in the port of Khor Fakkan later Tuesday, company spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

She said crew members reported a sudden large bang and shaking just before the collision, but no other details were immediately available.

The Japanese government has asked the U.S. side to investigate. Aandahl said a Navy investigation would begin shortly.

In February 2001, a U.S. Navy submarine rammed into a Japanese fishing vessel in waters off Hawaii, killing nine people. The American captain's delay in apologizing for the crash triggered protests by the victims' families.

U.S. naval vessels have been involved in previous collisions with commercial ships in the busy shipping lanes around the Persian Gulf. In September 2005, the U.S. nuclear submarine Philadelphia collided with a Turkish cargo ship in the Gulf, causing no injuries.

In July 2004, the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy collided with a dhow in the Gulf, leaving no survivors on the traditional Arab sailing boat. The Navy relieved the Kennedy's commander, Capt. Stephen B. Squires, after the incident.

Fleets of U.S. and allied navy vessels patrol the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and western Indian Ocean, attempting to block smuggling of weapons to Iraq and Somalia, nuclear components to Iran, as well as the movement of drug shipments and terrorists.

U.S. and coalition ships started patrolling the coast of Somalia in recent weeks in a bid to capture any al-Qaida suspects fleeing Ethiopia's December invasion.

[jdkliesing]

Wow multi-million dollar technology, radar beyond our wildest dreams and they hit one of the biggest type's of vessels runing in the ocean dont they hunt down other super quit subs and track their movments, you no I hear that tankers aren't exactly quite.

[whitey]

OOPS!!!!!!!!!

[shoefish]

Makes me feel better about wrapping a pot every once in a while.

[AquaholicFishing]

You'd be quite suprised at how many "accidents" involve our billion dollar navy ships. When I worked on a tugboat running from Hampton, VA to Baltimore, MD the older guys use to tell me all kinds of stories. Even ones that happened right off the coast of the US. The best one I can remember happened a few years ago off of I believe either VA or NC. Submarines have a tracking computer onboard that has a database of all vessels they come in contact with. Ever boat has a unique sound that the computer records. As I remember correctly there was a tug with barge in tow about 2500 feet back. The sub apparently did not have a recording of this particular tug so they proceded to come astern of the tug and move in so the computer could take the recording and they could come to periscope depth and read the name off the stern of the sub. Well as I'm sure most of you know, a 2500 foot long tow cable that is 3"-5" in diameter does not stay tight directly between the tug & barge. It droops down into the water. Well as the sub turned to come into viewing distance of the tug's name it caught ahold of the tow cable. Jerked the tug with so much force backwards that it almost immediately sank and all 9 (i think) men on board were killed. From what I understand the Navy never accepted blame for this but miracioulsy a US Nuclear Sub pulled into Norfolk, VA a few hours later needing emergency repairs!

Do I believe it? Yes. Could they have been blowing smoke up my a$$? Yes. Believe what you will!

[jjfishing]

sounds like a little under water bump drafting to me, The guys on the sub must be NASCAR fans.
Jeff

[maximumflash]

I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that A$$ chewing!

[gradywhite273]

Im sure ocnslr could tell us some stories, but im sure he is bound to secrecy.

[rocksandblues]

somebody is fired

[Miles Offshore]

Good read-

http://content.hamptonroads.com/stor...=77484&tref=po