The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) aircraft carrier sustained damage after colliding with a merchant vessel near Port Said, Egypt, on Wednesday evening, the U.S. Navy reported.
The collision occurred around 11:45 p.m. when the Panamanian-flagged bulk cargo ship M/V Besiktas-M struck the carrier in the busy maritime area near the northern entrance of the Suez Canal. The impact pierced the Truman's hull above the waterline on the starboard side, damaging a sponson near the aircraft elevator.
According to Cmdr. Tim Gorman, U.S. 6th Fleet spokesperson, the carrier experienced no flooding and reported no crew injuries. The ship's propulsion systems remain fully operational, and no aircraft were damaged in the incident.
The M/V Besiktas-M, measuring 620 feet in length, is approximately half the size of the 1,000-foot Truman. The merchant vessel also sustained damage to its starboard bow and deck but reported no injuries. The cargo ship was en route from Aqaba to Constanta, Romania, at the time of the collision.
The Truman, which leads the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, has been operating in the region since December 14, supporting operations against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen and conducting airstrikes against ISIS-Somalia targets.
Navy officials confirmed the carrier will head to port for damage assessment while maintaining its ability to conduct air operations. The incident is under investigation, with particular focus on how the merchant vessel managed to get close enough to strike the carrier in the heavily trafficked area.
The Nimitz-class carrier continues to operate in the Eastern Mediterranean while awaiting repairs. Despite the hull breach, the warship's design features multiple layers of protection, allowing it to maintain normal operations even after sustaining such damage.