USS Fitzgerald Departs Yokosuka for Pascagoula
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) departed anchorage in Yokosuka Harbor on December 9, on board heavy lift vessel Transshelf bound for Pascagoula, Mississippi.
USS Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal on June 17. Seven Sailors lost their lives, and the ship was damaged on the starboard side above and below the waterline.
Transshelf will transport USS Fitzgerald to Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard for repairs and upgrades.
USS Fitzgerald, which returned to Fleet Activities Yokosuka on June 17, completed a series of preparations for on load to Transshelf, including dewatering, defueling, layup maintenance, hull and superstructure repairs.
Departure from Yokosuka was delayed a few days due to damage that occurred during the onload process, which involved lowering Transshelf in the water, towing USS Fitzgerald onto a platform, and securing the ship for transport. During this process, the steel support structure punctured USS Fitzgerald’s hull, requiring repairs in port. Both ships returned to anchorage on December 1 where final onload preparations continued until departure to ensure safe transport.