As officially reported by the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet command, on February 12 at 23:46 local time, a collision occurred in the vicinity of Port Said in the Mediterranean Sea involving the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and the civilian bulk carrier Besiktas-M, which was sailing under the Panamanian flag.
Available photos show that the Besiktas-M sustained minor damage above the waterline, affecting only part of the deck equipment. The USS Harry S. Truman also incurred slight damage near the stern on the starboard side.
However, this incident raises interesting questions about how it happened and whether a more pessimistic scenario could have unfolded. After all, a 333-meter Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, displacing over 100,000 tons and valued at approximately $4.5 billion, may be difficult to sink, but it can certainly be rendered inoperable for an extended period.
Moreover, aircraft carriers do not operate alone; they function as part of a carrier strike group, alongside guided missile destroyers or cruisers, submarines, and support ships. It is quite hard to imagine a scenario where someone could approach military vessels at a dangerous distance without authorization.
Yet, that is exactly what happened. While the official reasons are still under investigation, a key aspect is that Port Said, where the collision occurred, is the exit of the Suez Canal, a location known for its heavy maritime traffic. Tracking the route of the Besiktas-M, along with the damage to the bow of the vessel, indicates that it collided with the USS Harry S. Truman at a speed of approximately 9 knots before changing course and coming to a stop.
It is worth noting that the USS Harry S. Truman had been involved in operations against Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea prior to this incident. However, it entered the Mediterranean Sea on February 3, after spending 50 days in the Red Sea, and was in Crete on February 6.