PORT ROYAL Grounding Follow-up

By Bull Nav

To no one's surprise, the CO has been relieved.

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.

Note that at this point, he has only been temporarily relieved of command while the investigation is in progress. This is typical in a situation such as a grounding, collision, or allision. In fact, there are two investigations in progress.

First off, the JAGMAN is being conducted under the auspices of the General Court Martial Convening authority (most likely SURFPAC) and will determine culpability for UCMJ violations, specifically Art. 108, destruction of military property, and Art. 110, hazarding a vessel.

That is what everyone in the WR on USS JEFFERSON CITY (SSN759) was investigated for following our grounding in March 1994. Believe me when I tell you that it is no fun. You are being interviewed for the JAGMAN while at the same time you are trying to fix the ship. Long days.

Secondly, there is a Mishap investigation in progress. This one is to determine what happened so that training and procedures can be changed/updated as necessary.

As for damage, a preliminary report is out, too.

The cruiser Port Royal sheared off blades on both its screws, damaged its bow sonar dome and left its anchors, anchor chains and other debris on the ocean floor during the three days it was stuck on a shoal near Honolulu Airport, the Navy said.
The $1 billion cruiser sat at Pearl Harbor’s Mike 3 pier Monday as Navy divers ran a remotely operated vehicle underneath it looking for additional damage.

Back into dock they will go, where it will take some time to fix. Remember, this is one of the TBMD ships so it is a significantly higher value asset that is not available.

After the JAGMAN is complete, the CO will go to Admiral's Mast and he will be relieved for cause. There will most likely be some others in the WR who will answer up, but he will take the biggest hit.

The crew is going to have a lot to overcome. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

February 11, 2009 04:19 PM Navy

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Comments

Not having seen this sort of thing before, what are the odds of an complete, unclassified, account of what happened on the bridge and elsewhere that resulted in the Port Royal ending up on the rocks?

Does the Navy put such things out, or are the kept behind the curtains?

SSG Jeff (USAR) · February 12, 2009 11:09 AM

I seem to recall reading that an Admiral was aboard when it happened. I wonder how that will impact the outcome.

David Follis · February 12, 2009 12:11 PM

There is an e-mail making the rounds of the USNA groups saying that the Skipper ignored the advice of his navigation team.

The admiral will get off scott free-the Captain on the other hand, is done. (Flag officer protection corporation will move in).

The loss of a BMD ship is bad-particularly since the COCOMS want more than the Navy has.

Skippy-san · February 16, 2009 01:52 PM

i am on the PRL. no admiral was on our ship when that happend. and second, the sh*t hit the fan and by that time, it was too late. Capt. Carroll is an excellent CO and I really really hate the fact that people point fingers at him and say he ignored the navigation team. NEGATIVE SHIPMATE. Capt. Carroll would never risk our ship, our lives, his career for what? a rhib xfer to get "off ship Sailors" back to base?? come on now. He cares about the PRL crew and it hurt all of us to hear he was being relieved. Captain Carroll, I hope all goes well. We support you and hope you get cleared. Thank you for bringing the ships morale up after many stressful situations.

SN *** · February 19, 2009 01:24 PM

SN - I feel for you, brother. You all have a hard row to hoe. As I alluded to above, I was involved in a grounding, and it sucked. I have no idea what went on out there, and I am not prejudicing an opinon against your CO. The fact remains, he was the CO and the ship broke. He is accountable. That is the way it is.

You guys need to fix it. You will. Good luck.

bullnav · February 19, 2009 07:39 PM

I served under COMMANDER Carroll on the USS George Washington for multiple years while he was Reactor officer. In answer to the comment that Captain Carroll was a good CO, you can ask anyone who served on board with me that this is not possible. He had no regard for morale of his crew, trying to send multiple people to Captains Mast for no reason, to a point where the Commanding Officer told him that he would be facing Administrative actions if he didn't stop. He was constantly berating and degrading those under him, and at one point actually brought all of reactor department to the hangar bay, stood us all at attention, and proceeded to tell us that he was a "good officer, and a good leader, and I am good to you guys!" this was after 3 1/2 months of 10 shift work in port with 0 days off. Yeah, he was great. He at least almost had himself convinced. Karma is a mother, and it is too bad that he had to drag his entire command down with him. He is NOT fit for any leadership position, and I hope to GOD, for the sake of everyone who may have to work with him in the future, that he is never put in charge of anything again, including himself. Nuke OUT!

anon. · February 24, 2010 11:53 AM