The US Navy opens its formal inquiry today into the ramming of a Japanese trawler by a nuclear submarine.
It is trying to answer lingering questions about the incident that killed nine people and marred US relations with Japan.
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The USS Greeneville |
The navy's Court of Inquiry could also lead to a court martial for three or more officers of the
USS Greeneville
who will be asked to explain how they failed to notice the 58-metre fishing boat before surfacing off Diamond Head near Honolulu.
The fast-attack sub is equipped with up-to-date sonar. Published reports have said the Greeneville's crew was aware of a ship in the vicinity before surfacing.
The Greeneville was undertaking emergency manoeuvres on February 9th when it shot out of the water and ploughed into the Ehime Maru and sank it. It was was packed with Japanese secondary school students. Nine people died. Another 26 people on board were rescued.