WASHINGTON/TOKYO – The US Navy said on Friday that one of its destroyers collided with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel southwest of Yokosuka, Japan, in the dead of night and Japanese media reported that seven US crew members were missing.
The Navy said in a statement that the USS Fitzgerald collided with a merchant vessel about 2:30 am local time (1730 GMT), 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, a rare incident on a busy waterway.
A US official told Reuters that the Fitzgerald was still working to account for all personnel and could not confirm if any were missing.
The Navy said one injured US sailor would be evacuated by a Japanese coast guard helicopter.
“The USS Fitzgerald suffered damage on her starboard side above and below the waterline,” the Navy said in a statement.
It said the destroyer had experienced some flooding, and that the full extent of damage to the ship and injuries to its crew were still being determined. It said the Fitzgerald was operating under its own power, “although her propulsion is limited”.
Kyodo news agency, citing the Japanese coast guard, said seven US crew members were missing. Reuters could not immediately reach the Japanese coast guard to independently confirm the report.
A spokesman for the US 7th Fleet said earlier that the ship was heading back to Yokosuka under its own power at 3 knots and would likely dock in a couple of hours.
