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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Port Royal skipper punished


By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The captain of the Navy guided-missile cruiser that ran aground off the Honolulu International Airport Feb. 5 was cited for dereliction of duty and received an undisclosed punishment yesterday, the Navy announced.

Capt. John Carroll appeared at an admiral's mast and was given "nonjudicial punishment for dereliction of duty and improper hazarding of a vessel," the Navy said. Navy officials would not disclose what Carroll's punishment was.

Although the Navy found Carroll was derelict in his duties, he did not face a court-martial, which is similar to a civilian criminal trial. An admiral's mast is an administrative proceeding where a senior officer can impose nonjudicial punishment for disciplinary offenses that do not rise to the level of a court-martial.

Nonjudicial punishment does not constitute a criminal conviction, but is placed in the service member's record, the Navy said.

Yesterday's hearing was conducted by Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander, U.S. Third Fleet, in San Diego.

Carroll was commander of the USS Port Royal that ran aground Feb. 5 on the first day of sea trials after $18 million in repairs and refurbishment. The vessel was freed four days later after the 9,600-ton ship caused substantial damage to the reef.

The Navy and state have developed a multimillion-dollar reef restoration plan, which the Navy will pay for. The project has yet to be completed.

Meanwhile, damage to the Port Royal was estimated at $25 million to $40 million.

Carroll was relieved of his command soon after the grounding and was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet staff, where he continues to work. Carroll was appointed captain of the Port Royal in October 2008 and had commanded the frigate Rodney M. Davis out of Everett, Wash., in 2002.

Along with Carroll, executive officer Cmdr. Steve Okun appeared at the admiral's mast and was given nonjudicial punishment for dereliction of duty, the Navy said.

Two officers and an enlisted sailor appeared at a separate admiral's mast and also were given nonjudicial punishment for dereliction of duty and improper hazarding of a vessel, the Navy said. Their names were not released.