DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A U.S. Navy destroyer collided with a merchant ship in the Persian Gulf off Iraq, slightly injuring four people, the Navy said Sunday.
The USS McCampbell collided with the merchant vessel late Saturday about 30 miles southeast of the Iraqi coastline. Two sailors and two crew members of the merchant ship were treated for minor injuries at the scene, Navy spokeswoman Lt. Leslie Hullryde said.
Both ships also sustained minor damage but were deemed seaworthy.
The merchant vessel was from the Pacific island nation of Kiribati.
McCampbell, home-ported in San Diego, is one of several coalition forces vessels conducting maritime security operations for southern Iraqi ports. Oil passing through the terminals is the main source of revenue for Iraqi reconstruction.
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