POINT LOMA NAVAL BASE, Calif. (USTCNS) --- Two logistics ships of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command collided 26 Feb. while conducting routine underway replenishment operations about 88 miles due west of Point Loma, Calif.

No personnel were injured and no fuel was spilled during the 11:40 p.m., 26 February accident. Both ships continued underway under their own power and are continuing with their present missions.

United States Naval Ship (USNS) GUADALUPE, a fleet underway replenishment oiler homeported in San Diego, Calif., was transferring fuel to USNS SHASTA, an ammunition ship, on GUADALUPE's starboard (right) side, and to USS SACRAMENTO, a U.S. Navy combat support ship, on GUADALUPE's port (left) side when the incident occurred.

The three-ship replenishment formation normally maintains a 200-foot separation distance between ships while moving through the water at approximately 15 miles per hour, with fueling hoses suspended from tensioned wire cables connecting the ships.

During the fueling, the distance between GUADALUPE and SHASTA began to close, and all the ships initiated break-away procedures to disconnect the replenishment rigs and separate. As the ships pulled away from each other, GUADALUPE's and SHASTA's sterns came together briefly in a "side swipe" manner.

Initial reports indicate some damage to the two ships' sides and to some of GUADALUPE's replenishment rigs. Both ships remain underway in southern Californian waters and remain capable of meeting their replenishment missions.

The cause of the accident is under investigation. (FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND - PACIFIC PUBLIC AFFAIRS).