US Navy: Tortuga Allision Costs CO, XO Their Jobs

USS Tortuga's (LSD 46) Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Thomas Goudreau and Executive Officer, Cmdr. John Fleming, were relieved of their duties Dec. 16, due to loss of confidence in their ability to safely operate and navigate the ship and their credibility to lead the crew.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 6, USS Tortuga (LSD 46) made contact with Thimble Shoals buoy (1TS) while enroute to her scheduled anchorage off the coast of Virginia.

The allision caused the buoy to become adrift as well as over $2.5M damage to the ship. The ship entered National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) repair facility in Norfolk, where repairs were completed Dec. 11.

Following an official command investigation, Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four, Capt. Jim Cody, found Goudreau and Fleming violated UCMJ Articles 92 (Failure to Obey an Order of Regulation) and 110 (Hazarding a Vessel) at non-judicial punishment proceedings.

Goudreau and Fleming have been temporarily assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic. Cmdr. Jeff Baker and Lt. Cmdr. Mario Freeman have been identified as the prospective commanding officer and executive officer.