In a report released on 1 November 2017
[8] the Navy describes
Fitzgerald's course in the half-hour prior to the collision as running 190T (nearly due south), with a speed of 20
knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). At about 01:17
Fitzgerald's OOD (
Officer of the Deck, responsible for the ship's course and maneuvering) misjudged the course of
ACX Crystal. At 01:25 the OOD,
Lieutenant Sarah Coppock,
[9] noticed
ACX Crystal getting closer, and ordered a turn to 240T (that is, to turn to the right and pass behind
ACX Crystal), but then rescinded the order. Instead she "ordered an increase to full speed and a rapid turn to the left (port)" (to pass ahead of
ACX Crystal), but "these orders were not carried out." At 01:29 the "Bosun Mate of the Watch [BMOW], a more senior supervisor on the bridge, took over the helm and executed the orders."
[10] The Navy has not said what those orders were, nor what transpired on the bridge following the collision at 01:30. Among other failings the Navy says "physical look out duties" were not performed on the starboard (right) side, where
ACX Crystal and two other ships were approaching.
The collision damaged
Fitzgerald's
starboard (right) side, including a "large gash near the
keel" in the
hull below the
waterline, according to the commander of the
US Seventh Fleet,
Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin.
[11]The
container ship's
bulbous bow penetrated the destroyer's hull below the waterline, flooding a
machinery space, the radio room, and two crew
berthing spaces with sea water.
[12][13] The collision also destroyed the
captain's cabin, according to Aucoin.
[13] Hours of
damage control by
Fitzgerald's crew kept the ship from sinking.
[14]
The
executive officer assumed command as the destroyer returned to port with the assistance of tugs, the destroyer
USS Dewey, and the
Japanese Coast Guard.
[15][16][17][18]
The Japan Coast Guard and
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participated in the
search-and-rescue operations, including evacuating Benson by helicopter.
[4][19] The other injured sailors were
evacuated by US military helicopters.
[4]
Although the collision occurred at night, the weather was clear. US and Japanese inquiries have begun to investigate the cause of the collision.
[14]