Two U.S. Navy ships, the guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6), collided while conducting a replenishment-at-sea operation in the Caribbean Sea on February 11, U.S. Southern Command reported.
The collision occurred as the vessels sailed alongside each other to transfer fuel and supplies. Two personnel sustained minor injuries and were treated; both are in stable condition. Neither ship reported major damage, and both continued sailing safely after the incident. The cause of the collision is under formal investigation by the U.S. Navy.
USS Truxtun had departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on February 3 for deployment in the region. USNS Supply had been operating out of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and conducted an earlier at-sea replenishment with cruiser USS Gettysburg on January 29, indicating sustained naval logistics activity in the area.
Underway replenishment at sea is a standard yet complex naval procedure in which ships maintain parallel courses at close range to transfer fuel, ammunition, and other provisions via rigged lines and hoses. Such operations demand precise coordination and seamanship to avoid contact.
Past U.S. Navy collisions have prompted internal reviews and renewed emphasis on navigation and underway replenishment procedures. The findings of the current investigation may influence training and operational safeguards for future at-sea logistics evolutions.
