Harry Truman US aircraft carrier collides with merchant vessel near Egypt

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - The USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, collided with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Egypt, the US Navy announced Thursday.

The incident occurred late Wednesday in Port Said at approximately 11.46 p.m. local time (2146GMT) in the Mediterranean Sea.

The US Sixth Fleet Public Affairs confirmed that the collision did not endanger the Truman, with no reports of flooding or injuries. “The propulsion plants are unaffected and in a safe and stable condition,” it said.

An investigation is underway.

The Harry Truman, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is one of the largest warships in the world, measuring 1,092 feet (333 meters) long and accommodating around 90 aircraft.

The Besiktas-M, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, is 188.5 meters long and was en route from Port Said to Constanta, Romania, according to the Marine Traffic website.