 Greeneville skipper apologizes to families of victims
Admirals try to reconcile crew, collision
Immunity requests may alter inquiry
Investigator urges improvements in subs' ability to rescue
A Tribute to the Missing
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By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
A civilian salvage company briefed the Navy yesterday on the feasibility of raising the Ehime Maru, but the options will not be made public until Monday, when the Navy plans to release a "technical recommendation."
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| The Navy will release a "technical recommendation" on the likelihood of salvaging the Ehime Maru.
Advertiser library photo • Feb. 18, 2001 |
Smit-Tak, which is part of the Netherlands-based Smit International Group, reviewed data from the Navy’s detailed underwater survey of the fishing vessel and the ocean bottom it rests on, more than 2,000 feet underwater.
The Ehime Maru plunged to the ocean floor Feb. 9 after the fast-attack submarine USS Greeneville collided with the ship. The Greeneville’s rudder sliced a gash in the hull of the Ehime Maru, which sank within minutes. Nine of the 35 people aboard were killed. Their remains could still be trapped in the hull.
Adm. William J. Fallon, a special U.S. envoy sent to Japan to apologize for the incident, last week told relatives of the victims that the Navy plans to "recover any crew members found." He also told them that the U.S. military has never salvaged a 400-ton ship from this depth, calling it "an extremely difficult technical feat."
Smit-Tak briefed the supervisor of salvage and diving for the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. The command has worked closely in recent weeks with the Japanese government to discuss salvage ideas. The Navy said yesterday that it wants to evaluate Smit-Tak’s analysis to ensure that all relevant information has been addressed.
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