THE ARLEIGH BURKE USS FITZGERALD COLLISION WITH A PHILIPPINE CARGO SHIP NAVAL INVESTIGATION IS IN - PUNISHMENT TO BE HANDED DOWN TO THE OFFICERS OF THE US NAVAL VESSEL - THAT KILLED 7 SAILORS IN ITS WAKE

About a dozen U.S. sailors are expected to face punishment for a collision in June between the USS Fitzgerald and a Philippines cargo ship, including the warship's commanding officer and other senior leaders of the ship, the Navy said on Thursday. Admiral Bill Moran, deputy chief of naval operations, told reporters the ship's commanding officer, executive officer and master chief petty officer would be removed from the vessel because "we've lost trust and confidence in their ability to lead."

Moran said that in total, close to a dozen sailors would face administrative punishment and left open the possibility for further action.

[Why did a U.S. destroyer fail to dodge a cargo ship?]

Multiple U.S. and Japanese investigations are underway into how the USS Fitzgerald, a guided missile destroyer, and the much larger ACX Crystal container ship collided in clear weather south of Tokyo Bay in the early hours of June 17.

The Navy also released a report that provided new details of the crash and its aftermath.

The collision tore a gash below the Fitzgerald's waterline, killing seven sailors in what was the greatest loss of life on a U.S. Navy vessel since the USS Cole was bombed in Yemen's Aden harbor in 2000.

https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2017/08/17/top-2-officers-and-C-sailors-aboard-uss-fitzgerald-face-punishment-after-deadly-collision/