US Navy Investigates USS Truman Collision with Merchant Vessel Off Suez Canal

The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier collided with the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship Besiktas-M late Wednesday near Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea, according to confirmation from the Navy. The incident occurred in a bustling maritime zone near the Suez Canal, with no injuries or flooding reported on the Truman.

While the Navy has not detailed the complete scope of the carrier’s damage, officials have emphasized that its nuclear propulsion system remains “unaffected and in a safe and stable condition.”

The Besiktas-M, while traveling to Romania after passing through the Suez Canal, sustained some damage; nonetheless, the crew was unharmed. The Truman, measuring over 1,000 feet in length, exceeds the 620-foot cargo vessel by more than twice its size.

This incident follows recent military operations involving the Truman in the Red Sea, which featured a friendly fire occurrence in December when an F/A-18 fighter jet was unintentionally shot down by the USS Gettysburg. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, with the Navy promising that additional details will be shared as they become available.

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