USS Higgins Suffers Major Power Outage

The USS Higgins, a guided-missile destroyer, lost all power and propulsion in the Indo-Pacific region on Tuesday. The incident, described by the Navy as an 'engineering casualty,' affected the entire vessel and its crew of approximately 300 personnel.

Details of the Incident

Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for the US 7th Fleet, confirmed the power loss. Initial reports indicate an electrical malfunction potentially causing sparking or smoke. Power was restored after systems were isolated, resolving the issue.

Vulnerability During Outage

A defense official told CNN the outage lasted several hours, leaving the destroyer immobilized and defenseless. Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, stated the ship was “helpless, electronically blind, and immobile.” Emergency diesel generators only provided power for essential functions.

Ship Specifications and Location

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, commissioned in 1999, is homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. It measures 505 feet in length and displaces over 8,200 tons, equipped with the Aegis combat system and vertical launch tubes.

The Navy has not disclosed the exact location of the incident within the Indo-Pacific Command’s area of responsibility.

Recent Navy Incident

This incident follows a fire aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier on March 12th. That fire, which occurred in the ship’s laundry area, was not combat-related, and two sailors received treatment for minor injuries.

Investigation Underway

The cause of the USS Higgins’ malfunction is currently under investigation. No injuries were reported among the crew.