Navy to Assess USS John S. McCains Damage in Japan

DVIDS Hub US Navys recently damaged warship USS John S. McCain is to be transported aboard a heavy lift vessel to a ship repair facility in Yokosuka, Japan, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) informed. The Navy intends to issue a task order on an existing contract for the ships salvage patching and transport via heavy lift from Changi Naval Base in Singapore to the designated repair facility. The lift, which would supposedly be undertaken by Dutch company SMIT Salvage, is planned for late September. In Yokosuka, the warship would undergo a complete assessment of the damage to determine repair plans, including cost, schedule and location for the repairs. USS John S. McCain was severely damaged in a collision with the oil/chemical tanker Alnic MC on August 21 while the ships were underway in waters east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. It suffered significant damage to the port side aft resulting in flooding to nearby compartments, including berthing, machinery and communications rooms. The incident occurred just two months after a fatal collision between the Navys destroyer USS Fitzgerald and the containership ACX Crystal. In late August, US Navy selected Houston-based Patriot Shipping to transport USS Fitzgerald from Japan to Mississippi for repairs. Under the heavy lift deal, which has a value of around USD 3.1 million, the company would move the damaged warship from Yokosuka to Pascagoula, where it will be repaired by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).