Navy pays $11,000
in sub collision
medical costs

Seventeen survivors of the
Ehime Maru collision were
treated at two hospitals

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The U.S. Pacific Command has so far paid $11,000 for the costs of treating 17 people of the Japanese fishing trawler Ehime Maru who survived the collision with the nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville nearly seven weeks ago.

Lt. Col. Dewey Ford, Pacific Command spokesman, last night said 10 people were treated at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center and seven at Straub Clinic & Hospital.

Most of the injuries stemmed from being in water that was saturated with diesel fuel from the sinking vessel.

Ford said he does not know at this point how much the military has paid to fly some of the families of the nine people who were killed in the accident to Hawaii to attend the court of inquiry that took place at Pearl Harbor earlier this month.

Problems arose earlier this week in Japan when the seven Straub patients received what they thought were medical bills.

Straub spokeswoman Claire Tong said the seven families received statements, not bills, from the hospital for their emergency care following the Feb. 9 collision.

"It was only for their information," Tong said. "It was not a bill because the Navy had said it would cover their bills."

Tong said Straub yesterday sent a letter to the seven families, who live in Ehime Prefecture southwest of Tokyo, to explain that "they are not responsible."

Tong said whenever a third party is involved -- in this case, the Navy -- an informational copy of the charges is sent to the patient, even though they are not liable for the charges. She declined to say how much the Navy was charged.

Ford said the military, "since the day of the accident, is committed to paying the hospital bills."

Jan Kagehiro, spokeswoman for Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center, said at least eight people -- four crewmen and four high school students -- were treated in Kaiser's emergency room on Feb. 9.

The four Ehime Maru crewmen also were seen on a follow-up visit at Kaiser's Pensacola Street clinic a few days later. However, all the bills were sent to the Navy, which made final payment on Tuesday, Kagehiro said.

Thirty-five people were aboard the Ehime Maru when it was rammed by the Greeneville on Feb. 9 nine miles south of Diamond Head.

Nine people -- four high school students, two teachers and three crewmen -- are still missing.

The Ehime Maru now rests on the bottom of the Pacific, 2,003 feet down. The Navy is studying the environmental hazards in raising the Japanese vessel, which the families have requested because they believe the nine bodies may be entombed in the ship.

Three senior U.S. admirals are currently completing their deliberations after listening to 33 witnesses over a 2-1/2-week period.

They must determine whether any of the Greeneville crew are liable for criminal negligence or other, lesser offenses.

The final determination will be made by Adm. Thomas Fargo, Pacific Fleet commander.