Tugboats from Singapore assist the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) as it steers towards Changi Naval Base, Republic of Singapore following a collision with the merchant vessel off Singapore, Aug. 21. U.S. Navy Photo
WASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) – U.S. Senator John McCain called on Tuesday for an immediate stop to U.S. sailors working over 100 hours a week as top Navy leaders struggled to explain a series of fatal naval collisions in the past few months.
Earlier this month, the Government Accountability Office government watchdog said that a reduction in crew sizes was contributing to safety risks, with some sailors working over 100 hours a week.
“I think I know what 100 hours a week does to people over time and that has been standard procedure for a long time,” McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said.
“I’m glad you’ve got RAND and whoever the hell else it is that is studying (the issue)… (but) you could make the change tomorrow,” McCain added. RAND is a U.S.-backed think tank.
The guided missile destroyer John S. McCain, named after the Senator McCain’s father and grandfather, suffered significant damage and 10 sailors were killed when it collided with a tanker east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore on Aug. 21.
The John S. McCain’s sister ship, the Fitzgerald, almost sank off the coast of Japan after colliding with a Philippine container ship on June 17. The bodies of seven U.S. sailors were found in a flooded berthing area after that collision.
Family members of some of the sailors who were killed were attending the hearing.
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer told the hearing that a review was underway to look issues within the Navy.
“We have a problem in the Navy and we are going to fix it,” Spencer said.
Spencer added that the Navy would consult with outside companies, including BP North America, which has experience in dealing with tragedies. In 2010, a BP rig in the Gulf of Mexico exploded which lead to the worst off shore oil disaster in U.S. history.
Admiral John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said that a high pace of operations and budget caps had an impact on the Navy, but ultimately Navy leaders were responsible for safety and readiness.
The Navy has fired a number of officers, including the commander of the Seventh Fleet, as a result of the collisions involving its warship in Asia. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Editing by Alistair Bell)
(Bloomberg) — Constellation Oil Services Holding SA’s bondholders are reaping a windfall due to increased demand for the company’s offshore rigs from Petroleo Brasileiro SA, a sharp recovery for a...
SINGAPORE, April 11 (Reuters) – Spot marine biofuel premiums have weakened further at the world’s largest bunker hub Singapore, weighed by slow demand, market sources said this week. Premiums for the flagship...
SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, April 10 (Reuters) – The U.S. Coast Guard has rejected comments by a Chinese diplomat that its recent boardings of Chinese fishing boats in the Pacific Islands alongside local police are illegal, saying...
April 10, 2024
Total Views: 4557
Why Join the gCaptain Club?
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.