US combat ship strikes berthed dry bulk vessel in Montreal, crew safe

AN advanced US Navy combat ship has collided with a 665-TEU dry bulk vessel at berth in Montreal, Canada. Both ships sustained damage but the crewmen were unharmed.

The 378-foot-long combat ship, the USS Billings, sustained damage under the waterline after hitting the 2007-built M/V Rosaire A Desgagnes owned by Quebec-based Transport Desgagnes, reported New York's FreightWaves.



The Billings was getting underway with the assistance of tugs.



'The Navy is conducting an investigation to understand what happened and why,' Navy spokesperson Lt Cmdr Courtney Hillson was quoted as saying. 'We will incorporate lessons learned to ensure we conduct safe and effective operations.'



While the Billings was capable of continuing to its Florida homebase, Naval Station Mayport, it remained it Montreal as of June 24 for further damage assessment.



The US$362 million Billings is described as being as a high-tech, cost-effective surface warfare vessel suited for modern defence needs. These types of stealthy ships are reported to have been plagued by a host of issues, which have prevented them from going operational.


WORLD SHIPPING