US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier crashes with cargo vessel

(MENAFN) The USS Harry S. Truman, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, collided with the merchant ship Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday night near Port Said, Egypt, according to US Navy officials. The incident occurred around 11:46 pm local time. Fortunately, no injuries or flooding were reported aboard the Truman, and its nuclear propulsion systems were unaffected and remain safe and stable. An investigation is currently ongoing.

The Besiktas-M, a bulk carrier over 188 meters long with a deadweight of 53,000 tons, had just passed through the Suez Canal and was heading toward the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania. The USS Harry S. Truman, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, had recently completed a port call in Souda Bay, Greece, before the incident.

Deployed to the Mediterranean in September 2024, the Truman has been involved in operations to safeguard American interests in the Middle East amidst rising regional tensions. The carrier, with a crew of about 5,000, has participated in several missions, including missile strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

This incident marks the latest in a series of accidents involving US Navy vessels. In 2017, the USS Fitzgerald collided with the ACX Crystal off the coast of Japan, killing seven sailors, and later that year, the USS John S. McCain collided with the tanker Alnic MC near Singapore, resulting in ten deaths. Additionally, in October 2021, the USS Connecticut submarine struck an uncharted underwater mountain in the South China Sea, injuring 11 crew members and causing substantial damage. These incidents have led to scrutiny over Navy operations and training protocols.

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