Gulf of Suez Collision: US Aircraft Carrier Suffers Damage in Rupture with Commercial Vessel
A US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, the USS Truman, suffered damage after colliding with a commercial vessel, the Besiktas-M, near the Egyptian port city of Suez on February 12.
The incident occurred while the aircraft carrier was operating in the Gulf of Suez region. The USS Truman had been conducting operations in the area when it collided with the commercial vessel at around 6:30 pm local time.
According to reports, the collision caused significant damage to the aircraft carrier's stern port side, near its arresting gear system. Although details on whether other areas of the ship were affected are unclear, the US Navy has confirmed that no water entered the ship, and there was no damage to aircraft or injuries to personnel.
The US Navy also emphasized that the nuclear reactor on board the USS Truman remained safe following the incident.
No information has been released by the US Navy regarding estimated repair costs or timelines. Additionally, it is unclear whether the damage will impact the ship's combat capabilities.
It remains to be seen whether the USS Truman will head to a port for repairs or continue operating as planned. As supercarriers are designed to withstand battle damage and continue executing their missions, the extent of the damage will likely have minimal impact on the carrier's overall performance.