Jacksonville Navy expert says crash could've been prevented

Search and rescue efforts are underway in the Pacific Ocean following a collision between a U.S. Navy ship and an oil tanker, east of Singapore.

Ten U.S. sailors are missing and at least four are hospitalized.

Rick Hoffman, a retired Navy captain, told Action News Jax the crash likely could have been avoided.

Hoffman was the commander of two ships at Mayport and went on to train young Navy sailors basic ship handling.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but Hoffman say a lack of communication inside the bridge and situational awareness are consistent factors in any collision.

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“The best technology still is your eyes and your brain,” Hoffman said. "They have to be always scanning the horizon looking for any change of situation.”

He also said parts of the Pacific Ocean are extremely crowded, making it more difficult to navigate.

Under the rules of the road at sea, if the U.S.S McCain was sailing straight, they had the right of way. However, Hoffman said the guided missile destroyer should have, if required, deviated from the rules of the road to prevent the collision.

“As soon as the rules of the road, by themselves, cannot prevent a collision, both ships are then required to maneuver,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman compares it to driving a car.

“It's no different than the way you approach a four-way stop. If there's a car to your right, you yield if you get there at the same time,” Hoffman said.

The collision marks the second crash involving a Navy ship in the Pacific in two months. In June, seven sailors aboard the U.S.S. Fitzgerald were killed when the vessel collided with a container ship.

Cox Media Group