Photo: Sven Eckelkamp / iStock Editorial / Getty Images
The USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, on Wednesday (February 12). The incident occurred at approximately 11:46 p.m. local time while both ships were navigating the Mediterranean Sea.
"The collision did not endanger the Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as there are no reports of flooding or injuries," the Navy said in a statement.
The Besiktas-M, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, had recently transited the Suez Canal before the collision. The U.S. Navy has launched an investigation into the incident, and more information will be released as it becomes available. The Truman had just completed a port visit in Souda Bay, Greece, after conducting operations in the Red Sea, including strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen.
Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, emphasized the carrier's adaptability and readiness in theater. The Truman's recent operations are part of the U.S. Navy's ongoing presence in the Middle East, which has been maintained since November 2023 following regional conflicts.
Collisions involving warships and merchant vessels are rare but not unprecedented. Previous incidents, such as those involving the USS John S. McCain and USS Fitzgerald in 2017, have led to significant investigations and changes in naval procedures.
