UPDATE: Photo of damage to US aircraft carrier in Mediterranean collision

No injuries reported as USS Harry S. Truman, bulk carrier collide

The U.S. Navy released a photo showing damage to the aircraft USS Harry S. Truman after it collided late Wednesday with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea.

The incident involving the Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier Besiktas-M occurred around 11:45 p.m. local time near Port Said, Egypt.

The incident caused damage to the carrier’s aft starboard sponson. Photos posted to social media of the bulk carrier showed some damage to its port bow area.

No timeline was given for repairs.

The U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet in a statement said there was no flooding or injuries aboard the Truman, which for several months has been leading a strike group in the Red Sea. No damage was reported to the vessel’s nuclear power plant.

“The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M at approximately 11:46 p.m. local time, Feb. 12, while operating in the vicinity of Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea,” the Sixth Fleet statement said.

“The collision did not endanger the Harry S. Truman as there are no reports of flooding or injuries. The propulsion plants are unaffected and in a safe and stable condition. The incident is under investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.”

The 620-foot Besiktas-M, built in 2003, was headed to the Black Sea port of Constantas in Romania, according to website Vessel Finder. 

This article was updated Feb. 14 with a US Navy photo showing damage to the aircraft carrier.

This article was updated Feb. 13 to add a statement from the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet.

Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.