USS Harry S. Truman’s Captain Relieved Following Collision In Mediterranean

The United States Navy has removed Captain Dave Snowden from his position as a commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) after a collision with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea.

The decision was made on February 20, 2025, due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command.

The Truman collided with the bulk carrier Besiktas-M on February 12, 2025, near Port Said, Egypt, while preparing to transit the Suez Canal, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

No injuries to any of the crew were reported, but the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier sustained visible damage. The Navy has since reassigned Snowden to Naval Air Forces Atlantic.

The damage impacted the starboard side, particularly below the flight deck near one of the aircraft elevators and observation points.

A U.S. Sixth Fleet spokesperson confirmed that the underside of the observation point suffered structural damage, with visible tears and large scrapes.

Despite the damage, the spokesperson stated that the collision did not pose a serious risk to the carrier. There were no injuries, flooding, or impact on the ship’s nuclear propulsion system.

Aircraft Carrier — Image Credits: Wikipedia

The decision to relieve Snowden was made by the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 8, Rear Admiral Sean Bailey. The Navy stated that commanding officers are held to the highest standards, and actions are taken when those expectations are not met.

In the meantime, the commanding officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Captain Christopher Hill, will temporarily take over command of the Truman.

The Eisenhower is currently in Norfolk Naval Shipyard for scheduled maintenance after a lengthy deployment to U.S. Central and European Command in July 2024.

The USS Harry S. Truman remains operational and continues its mission in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. After the collision, the carrier recently arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for repairs.

The Navy has confirmed that the removal of Snowden will not impact the ship’s mission or deployment schedule.

Reference: U.S. Navy

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