A massive military vessel's Mediterranean journey takes an unexpected turn near Egypt's bustling port.
According to ABC News, the USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, collided with the Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel Besiktas-M on Wednesday night while preparing to enter the Suez Canal.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:46 p.m. local time on February 12, involving two substantial vessels - the 100,000-ton U.S. aircraft carrier and the 53,000-ton merchant ship. The collision took place as the Truman awaited entry into the Suez Canal for its return journey to the Red Sea.
The U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet confirmed the aircraft carrier's propulsion plants remained unaffected by the collision. The Truman, powered by two nuclear reactors and four propulsion systems, sustained damage above the waterline. Officials are currently evaluating the impact on the carrier's operational capabilities.
The 5,000-strong crew aboard the Truman emerged unscathed from the incident, with no reports of injuries or flooding. Similarly, the Besiktas-M crew avoided injuries, and their vessel, though damaged, maintained its ability to operate under its own power.
The naval command has launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to this rare collision between two large vessels in the Mediterranean waters.
Prior to the collision, the Truman and its strike group had been executing crucial operations in the Red Sea since mid-December. Their primary mission focused on countering attacks from Houthi militants in Yemen targeting commercial vessels in the region.
The carrier had recently docked at a naval base in Crete, marking a brief respite from continuous operations. The tempo of these operations had decreased following the implementation of Israel's ceasefire with Hamas in mid-January.
The U.S. Navy's statement expressed concern over the Houthi militants' actions, which the group claims are conducted in support of Hamas.
The incident near Port Said highlights the challenges of navigating busy maritime corridors where military and commercial vessels converge. The Suez Canal, a critical waterway connecting the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, sees significant traffic from both military and commercial vessels daily.
The collision's timing proves particularly sensitive given the ongoing regional tensions and the U.S. Navy's active role in protecting commercial shipping routes. The incident occurred as Truman prepared to return to its mission of safeguarding maritime commerce from militant threats.
The investigation's findings will likely influence future protocols for military vessel movements in congested maritime zones, especially near major ports and strategic waterways.
The collision between the USS Harry S. Truman and the Besiktas-M merchant vessel near Port Said represents a significant incident in the U.S. Navy's ongoing operations in the region. The aircraft carrier, while sustaining above-waterline damage, maintained its nuclear propulsion systems' integrity and reported no casualties among its 5,000 crew members. This event temporarily interrupts the carrier's planned return to the Red Sea, where it has been conducting operations against Houthi militant threats to commercial shipping since mid-December 2024.
