The guided missile destroyer USS John S. McCain, damaged in a collision with an oil tanker in August, is to be repaired by the Navy in Japan.
The U.S. Navy said the repairs will begin this month at the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility-Japan Regional Maintenance Center in Yokosuka, Japan, when the destroyer arrives from Singapore aboard a heavy-lift vessel.
"Damage assessments conducted while the ship was moored in Singapore since the Aug. 21 collision revealed the scope of work could be completed in Japan at the lowest estimated cost and returns the ship to full service at the earliest opportunity," the Navy said in a news release.
Ten sailors were killed when the McCain collided with the merchant vessel Alnic MC east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore on Aug. 21. Investigations into the incident are underway.
The ship's crew, in addition to supporting repairs to the ship, will focus on training, readiness and certifications to prepare the ship for operational tasking in the Seventh Fleet.
GAO cites Navy's operational problem areas
The high demand for U.S. Naval presence overseas has resulted in worsening ship conditions and declining operational readiness, a GAO report says.
The Government Accountability Office said its review showed lengthened deployments led to shortened training periods, and reduced or deferred maintenance to meet the high operational demands, especially for ships homeported abroad.
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