Cause of U.S. Navy collision at sea under investigation

larger   The USS Denver sustained damage to its bow section

Two ships damaged west of Hawaii; no injuries reported

July 14, 2000
Web posted at: 6:26 p.m. EDT (2226 GMT)

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (CNN) -- Two U.S. Navy ships that collided in the Pacific Ocean, causing serious damage to the vessels but no injuries, were headed to port in Hawaii for repairs, the Navy said Friday.

The collision between the USS Denver, an amphibious transport ship, and the refueling tanker USNS Yukon occurred at about 6:16 p.m. Thursday about 180 miles west of the Hawaiian island of Oahu during a refueling operation, according to Lt. Flex Plexico, spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

"There are no personnel injuries on either ship," he told CNN by telephone from fleet headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

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A Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon told CNN there is serious damage to both ships and that they are headed for port in Pearl Harbor for repairs. The Denver is expected to arrive Friday, while the Yukon will not arrive until "sometime over the weekend," said Lt. Meghan Mariman.

She said that neither of the ships is leaking fuel or oil in the aftermath of the collision.

The Yukon had pulled alongside the Denver and was transferring fuel oil through large hoses when the accident occurred, Plexico said.

"When ships refuel at sea, you typically have one ship at sea and then another ship coming alongside, and it was during this coming alongside maneuver that the collision occurred," he said.

Both ships suffered structural damage and were traveling toward Pearl Harbor under their own steam where investigators would determine the cause of the collision.

"The damage aboard the USS Denver is on the bow while on the Yukon it's on the aft right part of the ship," said Plexico.

The Denver carries Marines and equipment and has 400 personnel.

The Yukon operates out of Pearl Harbor with about 800 staff on board.

The Denver was returning from a six-month tour of duty in the Western Pacific and was en route to its home base in San Diego, California.

CNN National Security Producer Chris Plante andReuters contributed to this report.

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USNS YUKON
USS Denver

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