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The collision occurred shortly after the 504.5 foot-long Fitzgerald, with 315 people on board, departed its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, bound for the Philippines. The Fitzgerald was traveling southbound at about 22 knots in the bay of Sagami Nada off Japan\u2019s Honshu Island when it collided with the 730 foot-long container ship ACX Crystal with 21 people on board, according to the NTSB. No radio contact was made between the vessels, the NTSB said.\u00a0The ACX Crystal sustained only minor damage to its bow and no injuries.<\/p>\n
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Seven sailors aboard the Fitzgerald died in the accident and three others suffered serious injuries.<\/p>\n
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The NTSB was the lead federal agency for the investigation and delegated its authority to the U.S. Coast Guard to gather documents and perform interviews on behalf of the NTSB.<\/p>\n
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Marine Accident Report 20\/02<\/a> includes 11 findings, seven identified safety issues and four safety recommendations, as well as the probable cause of the accident.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the report, the NTSB stated the probable cause as the Fitzgerald\u2019s bridge team\u2019s failure to take early and substantial action to avoid collision as the give-way vessel in a crossing situation. Also contributing was the ineffective communication and cooperation among the crew on the Fitzgerald\u2019s bridge and combat information center, coupled with the commanding officer\u2019s insufficient planning for the hazards of the destroyer\u2019s intended transit.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As for the ACX Crystal, the watch officer\u2019s lack of early detection of the Fitzgerald and insufficient actions to avoid collision, once in doubt of the destroyer\u2019s intentions, also contributed, the NTSB said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis tragedy highlights the importance of keeping a vigilant watch, determining the risk of collision, and the role of the Automatic Identification System,\u201d said Morgan Turrell, Acting Director of the NTSB\u2019s Office of Marine Safety. \u201cIf you are in doubt of another vessel\u2019s intentions, you need to use proper sound and visual signals, and then take early and effective action to avoid a collision.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In addition insufficient training of the Fitzgerald\u2019s crew and crew fatigue, the NTSB said the regular practice of U.S. Navy vessels not broadcasting automatic identification system (AIS) signals as one of the key safety issues in the accident. On the day of the accident, the Fitzgerald was not transmitting its data, although it was receiving information about other vessels in the area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n