US Navy Destroyer Collides With Merchant Ship

A U.S. Navy destroyer collided with the oil tanker M/V Rokya 1 in the Persian Gulf off Iraq, slightly injuring four people. The USS McCampbell (DDG 85) collided with the tanker late Saturday about 30 miles southeast of the Iraqi coastline. Two sailors and two crewmembers of the tanker were treated for minor injuries at the scene, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Leslie Hullryde said.USS McCampbell (DDG 85)No oil was spilled in the collision. Both ships suffered minor damage but were deemed seaworthy. The oil tanker was flying the flag of the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. USS McCampbell (DDG-85), home-ported in San Diego, is one of several coalition forces vessels conducting maritime security operations for southern Iraqi ports. Oil passing through the terminals is the main source of revenue for Iraqi reconstruction. The collision was at least the third for a Navy vessel in the Gulf since 2004. In August 2004, a small traditional Arab sailboat crashed into the USS John F. Kennedy. None of the sailboat's passengers were found.