Associated Press
SAN DIEGO — A Navy investigation reportedly found the captain and first officer of an assault ship responsible for a collision with a tanker off Hawai‘i in July.
Investigators found that Capt. Charles Webber and his first officer aboard the USS Denver should have realized they were on course to hit the Navy tanker USNS Yukon during a refueling operation, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.
The USS Denver, based in San Diego, smashed into the rear of the USNS Yukon, causing major damage to both ships. No one was injured.
Investigators found the Denver set an incorrect course as it headed toward the Yukon and the crew of the warship reacted too late to avoid the collision.
The Yukon’s captain radioed the Denver seconds after impact to say, "That was one of the worst examples of seamanship I’ve ever seen," according to a transcript.
The Yukon, which is based at Peal Harbor, carried more than 6 million gallons of marine and jet fuel at the time.
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