US Navy ship damaged in Middle East

A US Navy supply ship operating in the Middle East was damaged in an incident that is under investigation, according to Israeli media.

The damage to the USNS Big Horn comes after the ship refueled the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and remained in the area.

It’s not looking good. I’ve been told by a shipowner the Navy does not have a spare oiler to deploy and is scrambling to find a commercial oil tanker to refuel the Abraham Lincoln carrier group.

Updates over at gCaptain forum: https://t.co/nNG6uSYGJJ https://t.co/wGP2GTYyAw pic.twitter.com/ec2oN3CpSf

— John Ʌ Konrad V (@johnkonrad) September 24, 2024

A US Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident took place in the Middle East, but declined to elaborate on the exact location. A photo released by the US military dated September 5 shows sailors on the Abraham Lincoln receiving supplies from the Big Horn. The Lincoln is on patrol in the Arabian Sea.

Replenishment oiler 🇺🇸USNS Big Horn ran aground off the Coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea and suffered serious damage. Now being towed to Dubai.

She is currently the only oiler available to support the USN in the Middle East.

(Photo via @johnkonrad shows flooded machinery… pic.twitter.com/Ms5dtJtKoa

— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) September 24, 2024

The official said the crew of the Big Horn was safe and there was no sign of oil leaking from the vessel.

Another US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the ship was being supported by private tugs and the assessment was still ongoing.

Rumors about the condition of the Big Horn began circulating on Tuesday after images were posted on a shipping website, gCaptain. The website said the Big Horn “ran aground … and partially flooded off the coast of Oman.”