Tuesday, July 29, 2008Kyodo News
The fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington in May broke out after oil ignited near a boiler on the starboard side and it is suspected the oil was placed there against regulations, sources in the Japanese and U.S. governments said Monday.
The allegation is expected to arouse suspicion that the U.S. military improperly handled the burnable material on the nuclear-powered carrier and heighten safety concerns among residents in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, where the ship will be forward-deployed later this year.
The sources said the U.S. Navy will punish crew members as well as hold the skipper responsible for the fire after clearly establishing its cause.
They said that Rear Adm. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, is planning to meet soon with Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya, who has requested that the U.S. military fully explain the fire and what preventive measures the navy plans to take.
According to the sources, the U.S. Navy has learned that about 130 liters of oil, believed to be lubrication oil, was placed near an auxiliary boiler.
The navy has yet to officially determine the cause of the fire but the sources said it suspects a spark from a short circuit or static electricity ignited the oil.
The navy initially planned to deploy the George Washington to Yokosuka in August. But it is believed the fire, which broke out off South America, and subsequent repairs delayed the deployment to September at the earliest.
The arrival of the 102,000-ton carrier is a high-profile topic in Japan as the George Washington will be the first nuclear-powered carrier to call a Japanese port home.
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