Truman should continue deployment as scheduled after emergent repairs, carrier commanding officer says

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (pictured here) is in Greece undergoing repairs for collision damage. (US Navy)

Aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) should be able to finish its intended deployment following repairs to fix damage caused by a 12 February collision with a commercial ship, according to the ship's commanding officer.

Truman collided with merchant vessel Besiktas-M at about 2346 h local time on 12 February while operating near Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea.

For more information on the Truman collision, please seeAircraft carrier Truman collides with merchant vessel in Mediterranean Sea .

“While the ship is fully mission capable and the ship conducted flight operations following the collision, pulling into port for emergent repairs will enable the ship to continue deployment as scheduled,” said Captain Dave Snowden, Truman's commanding officer, said in a 16 February US Navy (USN) release.

Truman arrived at US Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay, Greece, on 16 February to conduct an Emergent Repair Availability (ERAV) on the ship's starboard quarter, the USN said.

Damage assessed includes the exterior wall of two storage rooms and a maintenance space, the USN reported. External to the ship, damage assessed includes a line handling space, the fantail, and the platform above one of the storage spaces. Aircraft elevator number three sustained no damage and is fully operational. Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) will lead the pier side ERAV, including an assessment and follow-on repairs to damages sustained.