New Delhi: A US Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S Truman, collided with a cargo ship, the Besiktas-M, in the Mediterranean Sea late on February 12, the Pentagon announced on Thursday. The incident occurred off the coast of Port Said, Egypt, raising concerns about potential damage and the circumstances surrounding the collision.
The US Navy confirmed the collision but reported no injuries to US Navy personnel and stated that the carrier was never in danger. The nuclear propulsion plants aboard the USS Truman remain in a “safe and stable condition,” alleviating immediate fears of a nuclear incident. However, the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier commissioned in 1998, measures 1,092 feet in length with a flight deck spanning 252 feet. Capable of carrying up to 90 aircraft, the Truman has been operating in the Mediterranean as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, protecting shipping from Houthi rebels.
The other vessel involved, the Besiktas-M, is a Panama-flagged bulk cargo carrier, measuring 618 feet long and 105 feet wide, according to MarineTraffic.com. It was reportedly en route from Port Said to Romania. The status of the Besiktas-M and its crew remains unknown at this time.
While the US Navy has downplayed the severity of the incident, emphasising the lack of injuries and the stability of Truman’s nuclear reactors, the collision raises questions about navigational safety and the potential risks involved when large vessels operate in close proximity. Further investigation is needed to determine the precise cause of the incident and assess the extent of damage to both vessels.
