Port Royal CO fired after grounding

[CommunityEditor]

The commanding officer of the cruiser Port Royal was sacked Monday, only hours after salvage ships pulled his cruiser off the shoal where it had been stuck since Thursday night.

Capt. John Carroll was “temporarily relieved of command pending the results of the ongoing investigation to determine the cause of the ship’s grounding,” according to a Navy announcement.

Capt. John Lauer III, with Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, will temporarily take over as the Port Royal’s skipper.

Carroll took command of the Port Royal in October 2008 and oversaw the ship’s recent shipyard maintenance period in Pearl Harbor. The Port Royal was on sea trials last week, having finishing its upgrades, when the ship ran aground in very shallow water off Honolulu Airport.

After three days of rolling in the Pacific surf as a collection of salvage ships attempted to pull it free, the Port Royal was finally floated loose early Monday. Engineers emptied the ship’s saltwater tanks, jettisoned its anchors and anchor chains, and took off more than 100 sailors, lightening it by about 600 tons, according to Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Scott Gureck.

Before taking command of the Port Royal, Carroll was the reactor officer aboard the carrier George Washington; he commanded the frigate Rodney M. Davis; and served as the executive officer of the frigates Gary and Thach. He also served aboard the frigate Ford and the carrier Enterprise, among other assignments.


Article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2009/02/navy_cruiser_relief_020909w/

[smarg]

This has to be the most humiliating "grounds" for relief (pun intended). Run aground?? A systemic failure starting at the helm all the way up to the skipper. And the guy only took over 4 months ago. Sheesh. :rolleyes:

[CDE]

Did anyone just look and see the shoal water? I wasn't there and no official report has been released but....again.....sheesh! I'm quite sure that just as in any incident as you peel back the onion you'll just want to cry, cry, cry.

[Battleshort]

I've been near that spot. (Not as close as the P.R.) The CO, XO, NAV, QMOW and all lookouts should be canned.:mad:

[PAMICH]

I'm looking at the photo of where they ran a ground. The shoal is very visible. They didn't need any fancy equipment to see that coming. Poor bastards,lots of heads rolling there.......... anyone else want to take the CONN?

[KentheShark]

Navigation and Shiphandling Rule #1: LOOK OUT THE BLOODY WINDOW!!

[forcedj]

Did anyone just look and see the shoal water?


... and all lookouts should be canned.


The shoal is very visible. They didn't need any fancy equipment to see that coming.


Navigation and Shiphandling Rule #1: LOOK OUT THE BLOODY WINDOW!!

Guys…I’m only defending the lookouts here…but it was dark. Ya can’t judge the depth of the water when you can’t see it.


... pulled his cruiser off the shoal where it had been stuck since Thursday night.



Dan

[KentheShark]

Was talking about the Captain and the OOD/JOOD. I bet the QMOW knew the ship was standing into danger as well. Either he/she didnt say anything or if he/she did, was ignored.

[PAMICH]

Ok, the lookouts are off the hook, for now...... but I'll be watchin them. The NAVO is going to be tied to the whipping post right next to CO and the OOD. Poor bastards, there is no one else to put the blame on. I know !I know! The fathometer was out of calibration.... it was the techs! EMO you are next.

[tmurphy]

I've been near that spot. (Not as close as the P.R.) The CO, XO, NAV, QMOW and all lookouts should be canned.:mad:
LOOK OUTS? I guess you never had or can't remember what a look out watch does because it is a freaking joke. The only thing little Seaman Jones is looking out for is his RELIEF coming on time so he can go to sleep or eat chow. This is a $1 BILLION dollar war ship that needs a sailor to stand watch outside 24-7 to tell someone(OOD) it might be running a ground. Maybe this is a wake-up call--let's get more look-outs posted, ya that will slove the problem. Why not just MAN-THE-RAILS 24-7 and turn off all the navigation equipment? One of us would mostl likely see that reef then!

[MPLisa]

Guys - two words here: Hillary Clinton. Yes, that's right, I said it. Hillary has caused more misery for the United States than any other cause, natural or man made.