A US Navy aircraft carrier collided with a cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt, a spokesman for the US Sixth Fleet said on Thursday. In a highly unusual and embarrassing incident, a US Navy aircraft carrier collided with a cargo ship.
The collision occurred around noon local time on Wednesday between the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and the cargo ship Besiktas-M.
The ships collided near Port Said, but there were no injuries on either ship. The Navy’s 6th Fleet said there were no reports of damage or flooding to the aircraft carrier and that its propulsion systems were “unaffected and in a safe and stable condition.”
Truman did suffer some damage, however, as statements show:
The Truman was approaching the Suez Canal to move from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, a Navy official told CBS News. There is no assessment at this time as to which ship was at fault, the official said.
The Truman sustained minor damage above the waterline, the official said. It was not clear if it would be repaired. The ship remained in the Mediterranean.
The Navy is conducting an investigation and has released few details yet, including which ship was at fault. The Besiktas-M also sustained damage – likely more extensive than the carrier.
The aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Mediterranean and Middle East since September and has reportedly conducted “anti-ISIS” missions, including strikes in Somalia ordered by Trump on February 1. As of late last week, it was in port in Greece.
Truman likely headed to the Red Sea to monitor developments emanating from Yemen and be ready to respond. The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks on Red Sea shipping if the Gaza ceasefire collapses.
Three more Israeli hostages were expected to be handed over on Saturday, but Hamas called off the handover earlier this week but said in the past 24 hours it planned to go ahead with the exchange. Israel has warned that if the hostages are not released, attacks on Gaza will follow. That means the Houthis would launch more attacks in the Red Sea, including against American warships.
