The remains of seven sailors previously reported missing following a collision between a US Navy warship and a containership on June 17, were located in flooded berthing compartments aboard the USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62).
The US Navy informed that the remains were found on June 18 after divers gained access to the spaces, which were damaged in the collision.
The warship collided with the Philippine-flagged containership ACX Crystal, operated by Japan’s NYK Line, at around 2:30 a.m. local time, some 56 nautical miles southwest of Yokosuka, Japan.
USS Fitzgerald experienced flooding and extensive damage, including a significant impact under the ship’s pilothouse on the starboard side and a large puncture below the ship’s waterline, according to the US Navy.
The extent of the damage aboard the 39,565 dwt containership is not known at the moment.
ACX Crystal moved to a berth in Tokyo, where its crew was questioned as part of an investigation into the collision. According to AIS data provided by MarineTraffic, the boxship is currently moored at Japan’s Yokohama port.
Three seafarers were medevaced following the incident, one of whom was Cmdr. Bryce Benson, Fitzgerald’s commanding officer.