New Photos Show USS Truman’s Damage After Collision With Cargo Ship

The USS Harry S. Truman, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, sustained visible damage after a collision with the cargo ship M/V Besiktas-M in the Mediterranean Sea near Port Said, Egypt, on February 12.

The U.S. Navy has released the first official photograph showing the damage, while further surveys are reportedly still in progress.

The collision occurred at 11:46 p.m. local time as Truman was preparing to transit through the Suez Canal.

The aircraft carrier had been returning to the Red Sea after a scheduled stop in Crete, where the crew had a break following two months of intense operations involving engagements with Houthi militants in Yemen and ISIS-affiliated terrorists in Somalia.

The newly released photo shows damage on 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 while the elevator itself was not impacted, 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.

However, it remains unclear whether the Truman will require repairs in port or continue with its deployment.

Maritime analyst Sal Mercogliano shared images of the Besiktas-M, a 53,000 dwt bulk carrier registered in Panama and managed by Synergy Ship Management.

A photo released from one of the crew of #BesiktasM after the collision with #Truman.

It appears that Besiktas M hit the Truman with her starboard bow. Note the mooring line cable spool sheared off and the damage to the forward starboard hatch coaming.

This damage may indicate… https://t.co/MtXUhg7hSG pic.twitter.com/4I2jCGMrZA

— Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) (@mercoglianos) February 13, 2025

The vessel, which has been operating for Black Hawk Shipping of the Marshall Islands since 2015, suffered damage to its starboard forward hatch coaming and a sheared-off mooring line spool.

Initially, some reports said that the Besiktas-M was continuing its journey to Constanta, Romania. Its current AIS data confirms that the vessel is docked in Alexandria, Egypt.

The U.S. Navy has not yet disclosed an official estimate of repair costs or a timeline for necessary maintenance. While modern aircraft carriers are designed to withstand combat damage, any prolonged repairs could affect ongoing military operations in the region.

The collision is still under investigation. Meanwhile, the Suez Canal Authority has not released any official statement regarding the incident.

The USS Harry S. Truman Strike Group was accompanied by the guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham, which was in the area at the time but not involved in the collision.

References: Reuters, ABC net

Source: Maritime Shipping News