USS Harry Trueman v Besiktas-M

[James Curry]

Things that go bump in the night. USS Harry Trueman hits Merchant ship Besiktas-M. Thankfully no reported injuries. I wonder what the story is there. Curious though as to how a Merchant ship could get that close to a Carrier. There are usually 4 other surface ships in a carrier group. So how come a foriegn Merchant Ship got that close?

Found this on Vesseltracke.com

Collision with aircraft carrier
Fri Feb 14 08:59:16 CET 2025 Timsen
The aircraft carrier USS 'Harry S. Truman' (MMSI: 368800000) was involved in collision with the 'Besiktas M' near Port Said on Feb 12, 2025, at around 11:46 p.m., while both ships were moving. The collision took place between the entrance/exit of the Suez Canal and the vessel traffic separation to the northwest. None of the crews' were injured. The 'Harry S. Truman', which is based in Norfolk, Virginia, deployed in September to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It had just completed a port call in Souda Bay and was heading towards the Suez Canal with an escort destroyer. Both ships had their AIS turned off. The 'Besiktas M', which had been en route from Aqaba to Constanta, and which had sustained damage to its starboard bow and deck, initially dropped anchor in pos. 31° 16' N 032° 22' E, but continued its voyage to Constanta on Feb 14 with an ETA as of Feb 18. US military officials have not confirmed whether the collision will delay the aircraft carriers 's expected onward movement to its next destination.
Report with photo and video:
https://gcaptain.com/aircraft-carrie...ear-port-said/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqRe-ouavjw
Collision off Chittagong
Fri Aug 26 11:28:57 CEST 2016 Timsen
The "Besiktas M" was in collision with the Bulkcarrier "Common Spirit" at Chittagong anchorage in the evening of Aug 23, 2016. Both vessels were damaged. The extent of damages and collision details were unknown.

If the Besiktas was exiting the canal North bound and the Harry Trueman is South bound? Last time I was through the Canal on an LNG Gas Carrier nothing moved until we entered the canal or we were tail end Charlie. Always remember it was like Wacky Races as soon as you cleared the canal. Box boats going for it lol. Even the Gas Carriers I was on could clip on at 20 knots +

[Ivan Cloherty]

With the number of USN vessels colliding with merchant ships in recent years it can be down to a couple of things, arrogance of USN naval navigators thinking they always have the right of way, or incompetence in underestimating the speed of merchant ships even though they have up to date True Motion Radar, but because of naval heirachy separate men on the radar and physical bearings and chain of communication to the decision maker there are time lapses which can be ill afforded when each vessel is approaching at a speed in excess of 15knots with merchant vessels having bluff bows and single screws and not the luxury of manouverability of naval vessels, a factor that many naval men of all nations (apparently) do not take into consideration when putting themselves in a close quarters situation.

Always remember a USN Carrier flashing another observed light, ' This is USN vessel XYZ, if you do not alter course we will open fire as you are impeding our progress' to which the reply was received 'if you do not alter course your progress WILL be impeded as this is ABC lighthouse'

[James Curry]

Used to get buzzed by Naval ships when leaving the Gulf . Due to the risk of Piracy it was not unusual to turn off the AIS until clear of high risk areas. One that still sticks in my mind was a US warship demanding the vessel in position such & such , course , speed and ships name. And why was the AIS turned off? Old man gave the reason and as there was no longer any point he turned the AIS back on. He also told the Naval vessel as there was no longer any need to remain dark so to speak as they navy ship had just told the world around us who we were and corse , speed and position. Silence from the navy.