Officials reported that the USS New Orleans warship experienced a fire on Wednesday off the coast of, resulting in minor injuries to two sailors.
According to a statement from the , the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock’s fire persisted for approximately 12 hours while docked at the White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, before it was declared put out early Thursday.
An investigation is underway regarding the fire that occurred on the 684-foot vessel.
While two sailors received treatment for slight injuries, specific details concerning these injuries were not immediately disclosed.
The warship’s crew battled the fire, assisted by personnel from the , another warship also moored at the White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, along with support from the Japanese coast guard and military.
The Navy stated that the ship’s crew will remain on board. Commissioned in 2007, the USS New Orleans has a capacity of up to 800 individuals.
This event follows a fire aboard the that erupted in July 2020 in San Diego and continued for five days. A sailor faced charges for allegedly starting the fire but was subsequently acquitted.
A regarding that incident indicated widespread failures among commanders, crew, and other involved parties. The ship sustained extensive structural, electrical, and mechanical damage, leading to its eventual scrapping.