SHIPPING

USS Harry S. Truman Collides with Merchant Vessel Near Egypt

The US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with the Panamanian-flagged commercial vessel M/V BESIKTAS-M in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday night. There was no flooding or injuries in the accident, the US Navy said in a statement.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, late Wednesday night, the U.S. Navy announced Thursday.

The incident occurred at 11:46 p.m. local time (2146 GMT) in the Mediterranean Sea. According to a statement from the U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs, the collision caused no injuries or flooding aboard the Truman, and its propulsion systems remain fully operational and stable.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collision.

The USS Harry S. Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is one of the world's largest warships, measuring 1,092 feet (333 meters) in length and carrying approximately 90 aircraft.

The Besiktas-M, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, is 188.5 meters long and was sailing from Port Said to Constanta, Romania, according to MarineTraffic data.

US 6th Fleet spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Tim Gorman said in a statement that the aircraft carrier was not flooded and the crew was not injured, while the aircraft carrier's propulsion plants were not affected.

It was stated that the investigation into the accident is ongoing.