The U.S. Navy has relieved Captain Dave Snowden as commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) following a collision with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea.
Rear Admiral Sean Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, removed Snowden from command on February 20 due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command. Snowden had served as the carrier’s CO since December 2023.
The incident occurred on February 12 at 11:46 p.m. local time when the Truman collided with the Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, after the merchant vessel had completed its Suez Canal transit.
The collision damaged the carrier’s starboard quarter, impacting storage rooms, maintenance space, line handling space, and the fantail. Aircraft elevator three remained operational.
Captain Christopher Hill, currently commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), will serve as interim commanding officer.
“The Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center’s ability to mobilize resources within and outside the theater to conduct repairs underscores the warfighting capability of the world’s most powerful Navy,” said Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson, commander U.S. Sixth Fleet.
The carrier was returning from operations supporting strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen when the incident occurred. No flooding or injuries were reported, and the ship’s propulsion remained unaffected.
The collision remains under investigation.
Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.
Join the 108,940 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
U.S. President Donald Trump's bulked-up tariffs on steel and aluminum due to launch within hours will hit nearly $150 billion worth of derivative products made from the metals for the first time, ranging from nuts and bolts to bulldozer blades and threatening cost increases for industry and consumers alike.
Chinese retaliation to US tariffs will hit the “low-margin” agricultural sector the hardest, and White House officials haven’t grasped the full impact, say experts.
Russia’s first home-built Arc6 ice-class oil tanker continues its voyage from the Zvezda shipyard in the Far East to its service area in the Arctic. After a month at sea the 69,000 dwt Valentin Pikul passed through the Suez Canal on Monday, now displaying Murmansk above the Arctic Circle as its destination.
Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 108,940 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
