Council tests out-of-the-box ideas to boost at-sea safety
After two catastrophic collisions in 2017, the U.S. Navy moved forward with dozens of recommendations meant to ensure it couldn’t happen again. But during this process, something became clear: Despite spending billions of dollars on readiness initiatives, the Navy’s mishap rate hadn’t improved in the last 30 years.
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Surface warfare officers cautiously optimistic about changes since Fitz and McCain disasters
“Acknowledging a positive trend requires you to acknowledge you’re coming from somewhere negative."
Five years later: Inside the Navy’s data-driven quest to avert a future Fitzgerald or McCain collision
The surface navy has worked since 2017 to avoid future fatal collisions. But Navy-wide, there's evidence of failure to learn. The service is now turning to data to ensure it never has another Fitzgerald or McCain disaster again.
A watery hell: how a green crew fought the Fitz to save her
The crew of the Fitzgerald endured a bruising operational tempo in the months leading up to the fatal collision that left little time for training. But despite all that, they saved their ship and got her back home.
One year later, McCain sailors and families locked in legal battle with oil tanker owner
Dozens of McCain sailors and relatives of the 10 shipmates who died in the collision last year are seeking more than $60 million in damages from the owners of the Alnic MC tanker.
How one family honored their fallen Fitzgerald sailor
When it came time to choose Tan Huynh's tombstone, his family opted to pay homage to his video game geekdom.
One year later, a Fitzgerald widow wonders why her husband did not escape
The 27-year-old widow joined several Fitz families who gathered in the Mississippi shipyard where the warship is undergoing repairs.
Navy drops negligent homicide charge against Fitzgerald CO
Cmdr. Bryce Benson and other former Fitz officers will no longer face negligent homicide charges for their roles in the June 17, 2017, collision.
‘The crew is still hurting’: One year later, some Fitzgerald shipmates struggle to go forward
One year after losing seven of their shipmates when the Fitz collided with a merchant vessel, some crew say they remain traumatized and wonder if they are ready to get underway again.
One year after the Fitzgerald collision, the families of the fallen grieve and search for answers
A year after seven sailors died aboard the warship Fitzgerald, some families are angry at how the Navy has handled the tragedy.
Here’s how two Fitzgerald officers could avoid court-martial
The attorney for one of the Fitz officers facing negligent homicide charges said this week that a reviewing officer has recommended the cases not be taken to trial.
Troubling US Navy review finds widespread shortfalls in basic seamanship
The evaluations raise questions about the level of ship handling that in-training junior officers get both prior to their arrival at their first command and after they arrive.
‘What the hell was he thinking?’: Families of McCain sailors tear into former CO at court-martial
One-by-one, 15 gut-wrenching statements were read while the destroyer’s former commanding officer, Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez, sat only a few feet away.
The Navy dropped a homicide charge against the former McCain CO and no one’s sure why
The Navy quietly ended its pursuit of a homicide charge against Cmdr. Alfredo Sanchez, who oversaw the warship John S. McCain when it collided with a tanker in August, killing 10 sailors.
Fitzgerald CO’s attorneys torch Navy brass for handling of case
Attorneys for Cmdr. Bryce Benson said last week that public comments by Navy leadership have assigned guilt and cast "unwarranted aspersions" against the former skipper.
US Navy still haunted by collisions, even as it adds Milius to 7th Fleet
With this week’s arrival of the destroyer Milius, the Navy’s Japan-based surface fleet is back up to its pre-accidents strength of 11 cruisers and destroyers, one short of the 12 originally intended with Fitzgerald out of commission.
