U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier Collides with Merchant Vessel near Egyptian Port

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) collided with the merchant vessel Besiktas-M near Port Said, Egypt, in the Mediterranean Sea late on February 12, according to the U.S. Navy.

The incident occurred around 11:46 p.m. local time, and an investigation is ongoing.

The U.S. Navy confirmed that no flooding or injuries were reported on the carrier. The propulsion systems remain operational, and the ship is in a stable condition. Damage to the carrier was above the waterline, and no aircraft on board were affected.

The Besiktas-M, a bulk carrier over 550 feet long with a deadweight of 53,000 tons, had just transited the Suez Canal and was en route to Constanta, Romania. It remains unclear who owns or manages the vessel.

USS Harry S. Truman, deployed from Naval Station Norfolk in September 2024, has been operating in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The carrier has been involved in missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, supporting U.S. operations in the region. Last week, the ship made a port call at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Greece.

It remains unclear whether USS Harry S. Truman was returning to Red Sea operations at the time of the incident. The U.S. Navy has stated that further details will be released as the investigation progresses.

The last recorded collision between a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and a merchant vessel was in 2004 when USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) struck a small dhow in the Persian Gulf. The commander of the Kennedy was later relieved following an investigation.