The guided missile destroyer struck by a merchant ship on Friday off the coast of Japan is now pier side at a U.S. naval base in Yokosuka while the search for seven missing sailors continues, a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman told USNI News on Saturday morning.
USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62) came into port about 6:15 PM local time – about 5:15 AM EST – 16 hours after the collision listing to starboard with the aid of two tugs, as seen in a video the Navy released on Saturday morning. The ship was also escorted to Yokosuka by the guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG-105).
Now back in port, divers are inspecting the damage on the exterior of the ship and teams are beginning the work to inspect the flooded interior spaces.
“The collision affected Fitzgerald’s forward starboard side above and below the water line, causing significant damage and associated flooding to two berthing spaces, a machinery space, and the radio room, which damage control teams quickly began dewatering,” read the statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet.
“Though the ship is back in Yokosuka it remains uncertain as to how long it will take to gain access to the spaces in order to methodically continue the search for the missing.”
In tandem with the work in Yokosuka, Japan Coast Guard, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy assets continue to search around the collision site — about 58 nautical miles away — for the missing sailors.
“JMSDF ships JS Ohnami, JS Hamagiri, and JS Enshu were sent to join the JCG ships Izanami and Kano. USS Dewey served as an escort for Fitzgerald and has also returned to Yokosuka,” read the statement from 7th Fleet.
“A U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft is working in concert with two JMSDF Helicopters and a JMSDF P-3C Orion aircraft to search the area.”
The service is withholding the names of the missing sailors until their families are notified.
“This has been a difficult day,” said U.S. 7th Fleet commander said Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin, who met Fitzgerald at the pier along with family members.
“I am humbled by the bravery and tenacity of the Fitzgerald crew.”
Three sailors medevaced from Fitzgerald by a JMSDF helicopter – including ship’s skipper Cmdr. Bryce Benson – are stable, awake and under observation at the U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. Other injured personnel are being evaluated.
The collision with the Philippine-flagged container ship ACX Crystal occurred about 58 nautical miles from the Yokosuka naval base at 2:30 AM local time Saturday morning. Photos of the Crystal released from The Yomiuri Shimbun show damage on the port bow where the merchant ship collided with the starboard side of the destroyer.
The incident is now under investigation.
The following is the complete statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.
PHILIPPINE SEA — USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), aided by tug boats, returned to Yokosuka at 6:15 p.m. this evening, approximately 16 hours after it was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged merchant vessel ACX Crystal while operating about 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan. Seven of Fitzgerald’s crew are still unaccounted for.
Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, along with many family members, were on the pier when the ship arrived.
“This has been a difficult day,” Aucoin said. “I am humbled by the bravery and tenacity of the Fitzgerald crew. Now that the ship is in Yokosuka, I ask that you help the families by maintaining their privacy as we continue the search for our shipmates.”
“I want to highlight the extraordinary courage of the Fitzgerald Sailors who contained the flooding, stabilized the ship, and sailed her back to Yokosuka despite the exceptionally trying circumstances,” said Rear Adm. Charles Williams, Commander, Task Force 70.
Shortly after the collision the U.S. made a request for support from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), which were the first on scene and continues to be lead for search and rescue efforts. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships JS Ohnami, JS Hamagiri, and JS Enshu were sent to join the JCG ships Izanami and Kano. USS Dewey (DDG 105) served as an escort for Fitzgerald and has also returned to Yokosuka. A U.S. P-8 Poseidon aircraft is working in concert with two JMSDF Helicopters and a JMSDF P-3 Orion aircraft to search the area. Names of the missing Sailors are being withheld until the families have been notified.
The collision affected Fitzgerald’s forward starboard side above and below the water line, causing significant damage and associated flooding to two berthing spaces, a machinery space, and the radio room, which damage control teams quickly began dewatering. Though the ship is back in Yokosuka it remains uncertain as to how long it will take to gain access to the spaces in order to methodically continue the search for the missing.
Once the ship arrived in Yokosuka, divers began inspecting the damage and developing a plan for repairs and inspection of the spaces.
Three patients required medical evacuation from the ship. One was Cmdr. Bryce Benson, Fitzgerald’s commanding officer, who was transferred to U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka by a JMSDF helicopter. All three Sailors are awake and will remain under observation at the hospital until further notice. Other injured are being assessed.
