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US Navy charges two destroyer captains with negligent homicide

The US Navy says it will charge the former commanding officers of the destroyers USS Fitzgerald and USS John S McCain with negligent homicide in last year's the deadly collisions, reports Baltimore's USNI [US Naval Institute] News.

Other men aboard face court martials and non-judicial penalties after a damning report concluded that serious breakdowns in leadership, along with other serious problems, were responsible for tragic loss of 17 lives in total.



To be charged with negligent homicide are Commanders Bryce Benson, ex-captain of the Fitzgerald and Alfredo Sanchez, ex-captain of the John McCain.



In June 2017, the Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine-flagged 2,858-TEU ACX Crystal off Yokohama, doing it little damage. Then, in August 2017, the McCain collided with the 50,760-tonne Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC as it headed toward Singapore.



The product tanker sustained damage to a fore peak tank valve seven metres above the waterline, but no injuries.



A subsequent Navy investigation revealed officers, senior sailors, and watch standers aboard both ships had violated a host of rules and regulations and ignored basic seafaring conventions in the run up to the accidents.
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