Civilians: We were 'innocent bystanders' in sub accident

HONOLULU, Hawaii (CNN) -- Two civilians aboard the USS Greeneville when it collided with a Japanese boat described themselves Sunday as "innocent bystanders," saying their presence had no bearing on the accident.

In a letter published in the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper, Michael and Susan Nolan -- two of 16 civilians on board the submarine -- expressed their sympathy to families who have apparently lost loved ones.

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"We very deeply regret the loss of life resulting from the accident and extend our most sincere sympathy and heartfelt aloha to the survivors of the accident and to the families and friends who have missing loved ones," wrote the Nolans, who live in Honolulu.

The nuclear-powered submarine was conducting an emergency surfacing drill on February 9 off Hawaii when it hit the training ship Ehime Maru. Nine people, including four high school students, remain missing from the accident.

The Navy will convene a court of inquiry this week and the Nolans could be subpoenaed to testify. The inquiry will focus on the commander of the USS Greeneville, Cmdr. Scott Waddle; the executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Gerald Pfeifer; and the officer of the deck, Lt. j.g. Michael Coen.

The court of three Navy officers will make recommendations to Adm. Thomas Fargo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The Nolans praised the submarine's officers and crew, calling them "compassionate people" whose actions from the moment of the collision and throughout the night of the search indicated that they felt "great sorrow and remorse about this terrible accident."

The presence of civilians neither interfered with the professional conduct of the crew nor led to neglect or carelessness, the Nolans wrote.

"We were just innocent bystanders riding the ship," they wrote.

The Navy on Friday ordered submarine commanders not to allow civilian visitors to sit at control panels and also has told the commanders not to perform emergency surfacing maneuvers with civilians on board pending completion of its investigation.

The Nolans said they were waiting to speak with the National Transportation Safety Board and would not grant any interviews prior to the NTSB questioning.

"However, we feel compassion for the families in Japan that have no information about what happened, and we did want, at the very least, to assure those families that the officers and crew did everything in their power to urgently respond to the emergency," the letter said.

The Nolans said they would consider holding a meeting with families of the victims.

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February 16, 2001
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February 15, 2001
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February 12, 2001

U.S. Coast Guard
Japanese Prime Minister
U.S. Navy
 • CINCPACFLT statement on the USS Greeneville incident
 • Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
 • USS Greeneville
National Transportation Safety Board

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