The USNS Alan Shepard, a U.S. Navy cargo ship, encountered an unfortunate incident when it ran aground shortly after departing from a shipyard in Al Hidd. According to Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the 5th Fleet, the vessel struck the ground, leading to the grounding of the ship.
The incident took place while the USNS Alan Shepard was participating in a vertical replenishment as part of its deployment with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). At the time of the incident, the ship was carrying approximately 85 individuals on board. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew.
Following the grounding, the Navy promptly initiated efforts to resolve the situation. Multiple tugboats were deployed and successfully freed the Navy ship during high tide on Sunday. With the ship afloat once again, the Navy is now focusing on investigating the incident and assessing the condition of the USNS Alan Shepard.
This is not the first time the U.S. Navy has faced an incident of this nature. In a separate incident that occurred last year in San Diego Bay, two Navy ships, the USS Momsen and the USS Harpers Ferry, appeared to be on a collision course. However, both ships managed to avert a collision by sharply turning away from each other. The incident sparked a Navy investigation into the matter.
Video footage posted on Twitter captured the intense two-minute encounter between the USS Momsen and the USS Harpers Ferry. In the video, sailors can be heard communicating their intentions to avoid a collision. Fortunately, both ships navigated out of the situation unscathed, with no injuries or damage reported, according to Lt. Samuel Boyle, a spokesperson for the U.S. Third Fleet.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6316434825112
As the Navy continues its investigation into both incidents, attention will be directed towards identifying the causes and implementing measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The safety and well-being of personnel on board and the protection of Navy assets remain paramount concerns for the U.S. Navy, as they strive to maintain the highest standards of operational readiness.