U.S. Navy blames fatal warship collisions on human error

A new report details the events that led to the collision of the USS John S. McCain and oil/chemical tanker Alnic MC off the coast of Japan on Aug. 21, and the crash between the USS Fitzgerald and ACX Crystal on June 17.    Fatal collisions between two U.S. Navy warships and two containerships that occurred months apart earlier this year were caused by human error on the part of military members and could have been avoided, according to a newly-released report by the U.S. Navy’s chief of naval operations.
   The report, released Nov. 1, detailed the events and actions that led to the collision of the USS John S. McCain and oil/chemical tanker Alnic MC off the coast of Japan on Aug. 21, and the crash between the USS Fitzgerald and ACX Crystal on June 17.
   “Both of these accidents were preventable, and the respective investigations found multiple failures by watch standers that contributed to the incidents,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said in the report. “The Navy is firmly committed to doing everything possible to prevent an accident like this from happening again.”
   “We will spend every effort needed to correct these problems and be stronger than before,” Richardson said.
   The collision between the John S. McCain and Alnic MC was avoidable, and resulted primarily from “complacency, over-confidence and lack of procedural compliance,” the unclassified version of the 72-page report notes. “A major contributing factor to the collision was sub-standard level of knowledge regarding the operation of the ship control console.”
   In particular, the report states that the commanding officer of the McCain disregarded recommendations from his executive officer, navigator and senior watch officer to establish sea and anchor watch teams in a timely fashion to ensure the safe and effective operation of the ship.
   Also, no one on the bridge’s watch team, including the commanding officer and executive officer, were properly trained on how to correctly operate the ship control console during a steering casualty, the report states.
   The collision was reported at 6:24 am local time as the vessels were east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca on the morning of Aug. 21.
   According to the 7th Fleet, the John S. McCain was transiting to a routine port call in Singapore when the collision occurred. The vessel, which is 505 feet long and weighs less than 9,000 tons with a full crew, sustained damage to her port side aft upon colliding with the 600 foot long, 30,000 gross ton, double-hulled tanker, which is owned by Marshall Islands-based Energetic Tank Inc. and operated by Greece-based shipping company Stealth Maritime Corp. S.A.
   No injuries or spillage were reported on board the nine-year-old tanker, but 10 U.S. sailors were killed. It was the second fatal accident involving the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka, Japan-based 7th Fleet, following the mid-June incident in which seven U.S. sailors were killed and three others severely injured.
   In that crash, the ACX Crystal, a containership chartered by Japanese ocean carrier NYK Line, collided with the USS Fitzgerald in the Philippine Sea around 1:30 am local time on June 17.
   The collision between the Fitzgerald and ACX Crystal, the U.S. Navy has determined, was avoidable and resulted from an accumulation of smaller errors over time, ultimately resulting in a “lack of adherence to sound navigational practices.”
   Specifically, the report states that watch teams on the Fitzgerald “disregarded established norms of basic contact management” and, that leadership on the vessel “failed to adhere to well-established protocols” in place to prevent collisions.
   In addition, the report notes that the ship’s top three leaders – Cmdr. Bryce Benson, Cmdr. Sean Babbitt and Command Master Chief Brice Baldwin – were all absent during a time period when their experience, guidance and example would have greatly benefited the ship.
   After the incidents, 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin was relieved of duty by U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Scott Swift due to “a loss of faith” in his ability to command, according to the Navy. He was replaced Aug. 23 by Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, whose most recent assignment was deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Hawaii.