US Navy Ships Collide in Caribbean Replenishment

A U.S. Navy destroyer and a supply ship collided during a replenishment operation in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, resulting in minor injuries to two personnel, according to U.S. Southern Command officials.

The incident involved the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun and the Supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Supply, which occurred as the vessels conducted a replenishment at sea. This procedure requires ships to sail parallel to each other, typically within hundreds of feet, to transfer fuel, food, equipment and other supplies via hoses and cables. "Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition," said Col. Emmanuel Ortiz, a U.S. Southern Command spokesman. Both ships continued operations safely afterward, and the cause of the collision remains under investigation.

The USS Truxtun, which departed its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 6 following a brief return for equipment repairs, joined a significant U.S. naval presence in the region. Officials noted the destroyer had initially left port on February 3 but needed to address an emergent issue before proceeding to the Caribbean. The USNS Supply, operated primarily by...