USN DDG Grounding 12 November, 1996 Puerto Rico St Martin Guadeloupe

She was scheduled to rendezvous off Vieques in the afternoon. ILE SAINT-MARTIN (FRANCE) SINT MAARTEN (NETHERLANDS) 20 10 30 50 Soundings in meters GROOT BAI Puerto Rico Guadeloupe St Martin Vieques She was scheduled to rendezvous off Vieques in the afternoon. USN DDG was departing anchorage off St Martin on the morning of 12 November, 1996.

GROOT BAI (GREAT BAY) Wind 15 Kts Current ½-1 Kt 10 20 5 DDG 1000 yds Soundings in Meters Wind 15 Kts Current ½-1 Kt Shoal water is approx 1600 yds South of DDG Anchorage Position GROOT BAI (GREAT BAY) Proselyte Reef Cruise Ship Anchored There were several vessels anchored in the DDG’s vicinity. Dutch FF Anchored The ship weighed anchor at 0818. Cruise Ship Anchored Two underway vessels, the CHT barge (an LCM-8) and an inbound cruise ship, interfered with the planned 263°T track. LCM-8 (CHT) Intended Track 263°T SS Norway U/W Proceeding to anchorage The CO decided to head south, cross ahead of the two vessels and then head to the west.

Wind from 090/15kts Proselyte Reef Planned Track 263°T 0815 Fix Bridge Positions CIC Positions Reconstructed Positions 0815 Fix 0820 Fix 0822 Fix 0818 U/W A/A 3Kts 0820 Fix 0819 RFR 0821 5Kts 0824 Fix 0822 7Kts 0824 Fix 0823 10Kts c/c 180 1000 Yards 0825 Plotter tells NAV that shoal is 1200 yds off STBD bow from 0824 fix. Wind from 090/15kts 760 yds between 0824 and 0826 Fix =11.4 SOG. 180 yds set in 2 min =2.7 kts set. 0826 Fix 26 DR 0826 Fix 26 DR 27 DR 0827 Fix 28 DR 0828 Fix Charted position of missing buoy First “hit” Proselyte Reef 0828 GPS (ordered after impact)