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Navy, Coast Guard
investigate Pacific
ship collision

The oiler that collided with
the troop ship was involved
in another collision this year

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Both the Navy and Coast Guard are investigating the collision between a Navy troop transport and an oiler -- the first Pacific naval maritime accident in at least a decade.

Jackie Zettles, Coast Guard spokeswoman, said that because Thursday's incident is considered "a serious marine accident," the crew will be subjected to a drug test.

Zettles said Coast Guard investigators will examine the damage and interview crew members. She didn't know how long the investigation will take.

Since the Yukon is one of 13 oilers operated by the Military Sealift Command whose vessels are licensed by the Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Ships, the oiler needs to be certified by the Guard before it can go out again, said Larry Crutchfield, Sealift spokesman in San Diego.

Lt. Flex Plexico, Pacific Fleet spokesman, said the Navy is assessing the damage that left a gaping hole in the bow of the 570-foot troop transport USS Denver and the starboard quarter (left rear side) of the oiler USNS Yukon. There has been no estimate on the cost to repair both vessels.

The vessels were about to undertake a refueling and replenishment operation when they collided Thursday night 180 miles west of Oahu.

Both are berthed in the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Crutchfield said a MSC port engineer was dispatched from San Diego to evaluate the Yukon -- one of six oilers assigned to the Pacific.

The 677-foot Yukon was delivered to the Navy March 25, 1994, and assigned to Pearl Harbor earlier this year, Crutchfield said.

This is the second collision for the Yukon and its captain -- Master Mark J. Wilson.

Crutchfield said that on Feb. 21 at the port of Dubai, the 41,000-ton Yukon was inbound traveling about eight knots when a smaller civilian cargo vessel -- MV Inchcape 14 -- crossed its bow.

The 216-ton Inchcape was outbound in the Jebel Ali channel traveling 15 knots when its starboard quarter (right rear) collided with the Yukon's bow.

Crutchfield said the upper tip of the Yukon's bow suffered superficial structural damage. The Inchcape sank and had to be salvaged.

A Navy investigation is still under way, Crutchfield added.

He also couldn't say how long Wilson has been a MSC captain, but he did say that Wilson has been with the MSC for 20 years.