Navy puts curbs on civilian presence aboard submarines

In addition, submarine commanders also are being ordered not to allow civilians at control stations, Navy officials said today. Two civilians aboard the Greeneville were at control positions when the accident occurred, although the Navy has said there is no evidence they played any role in the tragedy.

The Greeneville was practicing an emergency ascent on Feb. 9 in waters off the coast of Pearl Harbor when it rammed the Ehime Maru, a training vessel for commercial fishing. Twenty-six people were rescued and nine are missing — four high school students, three crewmen and two teachers.

Crew tests negative for drugs

In Honolulu, the National Transportation Safety Board, investigating the accident because a civilian vessel was involved with probable loss of life, said it has had telephone interviews with four of the 16 civilians who were aboard the Greeneville. Safety board member John Hammerschmidt, briefing reporters, said it has not been determined whether the civilian sitting at the submarine’s helm had any role in the accident.

“Exactly how involved that person was, we don’t know that right now,” Hammerschmidt said. “That will come as our interview process continues.”

Toxicology reports requested by the Coast Guard showed that none of the Ehime Maru’s surviving crew tested positive for drugs or alcohol, Hammerschmidt said. He said 25 members of the Greeneville’s crew were tested for drugs and were clean.

Submersible poised for search

Meanwhile, a support ship was preparing to launch a remotely operated deep diving vehicle to descend 1,800 feet to the ocean floor and locate and film the Japanese vessel.

The C-Commando, a 220-foot vessel carrying the Super Scorpio II, left port for the site nine miles off Diamond Head and was expected to launch the ROV early this afternoon, conditions permitting, said Lt. Cmdr. Flex Plexico, a spokesman for the Pacific Fleet.

Navy report completed, under review

A preliminary Navy fact-finding look into the accident has been completed, Pentagon officials said, but the officer who will decide how to proceed with an investigation — Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet — has not finished reviewing it.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley said the Japanese government has insisted it be consulted before Fargo decides how to proceed with the investigation.

Fargo will have several options: He could ask for more information before taking action, he could convene a board of inquiry to take sworn statements or he could move directly toward a court-martial.

Civilians interviewed NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is doing its own investigation. Over the next week, NTSB investigators will interview all 16 civilians who were aboard the submarine at the time of the collision.

The NTSB will not disclose the contents of those interviews until they all have been completed.

The Navy has scaled back its search for the missing. The Coast Guard, which is now directing the search, said it had gone “beyond reasonable expectations” but said the operation would continue indefinitely.

Diplomatic briefings continue

A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official, Seishiro Eto, met separately with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and with Undersecretary of State Alan Larson.

Pentagon spokesman Craig Quigley told reporters that Eto was given a rundown by a Coast Guard representative on their response to the accident.
He also was briefed on the continuing effort by the Coast Guard to find the missing, Quigley said.

Most of Eto’s discussions were with Rudy de Leon, the deputy defense secretary, but Rumsfeld joined the meeting for about 10 minutes, the spokesman said.

State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said Larson reiterated “our regret and our apology” for the accident and promised to provide Japan with prompt information about it.

Eto had no comment for reporters as he left the State Department.