MID: US Navy vessels collide in Strait of Hormuz
21 Mar 2009 1:57 AM
EDS: Revises size of fuel spill
MANAMA, Bahrain, March 20 AP - Two US Navy vessels - a submarine and an amphibious ship - collided during the early on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and the Arabian peninsula, the US Navy's 5th Fleet reported.
The military said in a statement the USS Hartford, a submarine, and the USS New Orleans, an amphibious ship, collided around 1am local time.
According to the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, 15 sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured but able to return to duty. No injuries were reported aboard the New Orleans.
Both ships were heading to port when the incident occurred in the narrow strait, said Lieutenant Nate Christensen. He said the incident occurred at night, and the submarine was submerged at the time, but said he could give no further details as the incident is still under investigation.
Both vessels are now heading to port for repairs and evaluation.
The New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, resulting in a spill of about 95,000 litres of diesel fuel. There was no damage to the nuclear reactor powering the Hartford, Christensen said.
Both ships are currently operating under their own power.
The Navy said both ships were on regularly scheduled deployments to the region and conducting security operations.
Oil prices rose after news of the collision which happened in a busy shipping route.
As much as 17 million barrels of oil a day went through the narrow strait in the first half of 2008, or about 40 per cent of all seaborne traded oil or 20 per cent of all oil traded globally.
The Hartford is based in Groton, Connecticut, and the New Orleans is based in San Diego, California, the Navy said.
