US warships collide in Strait bordering Iran

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-21-2009 15:33

Two US Navy vessels -- a nuclear-powered submarine and an amphibious ship -- have collided in the Strait of Hormuz bordering Iran.

Amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD 18) performing plane guard duty during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean. A US Navy submarine and a US amphibious vessel collided in the  Strait of Hormuz slightly injuring 15 sailors and creating a  fuel spill of around 25,000 gallons, the US Navy said.(AFP/File/Lt. J.G Jared Apollo Burgamy)

Navy officials say the incident took place in the early hours on Friday, when both ships were heading to port and were going in the same direction in the narrow strait.

Fifteen sailors on board the submarine, the USS Hartford were slightly injured, but able to return to duty. No injuries were reported on board the USS New Orleans- the amphibious ship.

The U.S. Navy says there was no damage to the nuclear propulsion unit of the submarine. But it noted that the amphibious ship suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in a diesel fuel spill.