Commander Bryce Benson, captain of the USS Fitzgerald was medically evacuated from the USS Fitzgerald after an incident off the coast of Japan, while arrangements were being made to also transport two crew members to the hospital who had received minor bruises and lacerations. The captain is said to be in a stable condition. However, seven sailors went missing after the US Navy destroyer collided with the Merchant Ship and a search is currently underway.

Navy and Japanese coastguard try to stabilize the USS Fitzgerald

The Navy Times quotes Chief Admiral John Richardson as saying U.S. Navy vessels, along with the Japanese coastguard and maritime defense vessels, are working to stabilize the damaged destroyer and move it back to land. According to the Japanese coastguard, they believe the missing sailors had been thrown from the ship during the collision or were possibly trapped in the damaged sections of the U.S. Navy destroyer.

USS Fitzgerald collided with a Philippine-registered merchant ship

The guided missile destroyer sustained damage both above and below the waterline on the starboard side after colliding with a 730ft Philippine-registered container ship around 50 nautical miles from Yokosuka.

That ship weighs 29,060 tons and is said to be four times larger than the USS Fitzgerald. One of the ship’s machine rooms and two crew member berths were flooded in the incident. The Navy Times said as the incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, many of the crew members would have been in their berths.

One of the ship’s machine rooms and two crew member berths were flooded in the incident. The Navy Times said as the incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on Friday, many of the crew members would have been in their berths.

The USS Dewey, along with two Navy tugs and medical assistance, were to be dispatched as soon as possible, with Naval aircraft ready to assist. The container ship, which was en route from Nagoya to Tokyo, was reportedly able to proceed unaided to Tokyo, with damage to its port side.

According to the Japanese news website, The Mainichi, while Japan has the right to investigate, as the incident with the US Navy destroyer occurred in Japanese waters, the U.S. has primary jurisdiction in the matter. Both countries are reportedly in talks on how to resolve the issue.

Relatives wait for news about their loved ones on board the USS Fitzgerald

The Associated Press reported that relatives of the sailors missing from the USS Fitzgerald are still waiting for news of their family members. That report quoted Rita Schrimsher and her family of Athens, Al., who were worried about their grandson, 23-year-old Jackson Schrimsher, who was on board the destroyer. She said she later received a call on Facetime from Jackson to let the family know he was safe.