Anger over civilians 'at helm' of submarine in fatal accident

The US navy could bring charges against the captain of a submarine which killed nine people when it struck a Japanese fishing vessel.

The navy has acknowledged the possibility 15 civilians aboard the US attack submarine could have distracted the crew.

Nine Japanese from the fishing vessel are missing and rescue hopes have faded since the collision on Friday off Hawaii.

The second-in-command of the Japanese boat says it is unforgivable that civilians were at the helm of the sub.

Two civilians were at key control stations of the USS Greeneville when it surfaced under the Ehime Maru, sinking it.

"A civilian wouldn't know what to do," says Ryoichi Miya, first mate of the Ehime Maru. "It's absolutely unforgivable if a civilian was operating it."

A defence official said one civilian was at the helm, where the vertical movement and direction of the submarine are controlled, although there was no indication that person played a role in the crash.

"There were two civilians at two separate watch stations under the very close supervision of a qualified watch stander," he said.

The Washington Post reports another civilian was at the ballast controls, where the surfacing manoeuvre would have begun.