Boxship involved in deadly June collision with American destroyer resumes service
The owners of the ACX Crystal, a 2,900 teu boxship involved in a deadly collision with a US Navy destroyer off Japan on June 16, is back in service. The ACX Crystal hit the side of the USS Fitzgerald (pictured) in the early hours on June 16, with seven American sailors dying in the accident.
Dainichi-Invest Corporation, the owners of the boxship, report that the ACX Crystal has been repaired and safety inspection have been passed. The ship left the repair dock on July 22 and departed the next day for Laem Chabang in Thailand to resume service. The ship is on charter to Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK).
The USS Fitzgerald, meanwhile, which sustained far more significant damages, will remain under repair in Japan for many more months.
The Philippine master of the ACX Crystal has claimed that the warship did not respond to warning signals or take evasive action. The boxship master reported that his ship had signalled with flashing lights after the Fitzgerald “suddenly” steamed on to a course to cross its path.
Multiple investigations are underway, by authorities in Japan, the US and the Philippines.