Sub commander blamed for trawler tragedy

The commander of the USS Greenville has been blamed for the fatal collision with a Japanese trawler.

The head of the US Pacific Fleet's submarine force says Scott Waddle's failure to detect the trawler through his periscope led to the collision.

Rear Admiral Albert Konetzni said the commanding officer has an absolute obligation to ensure the area is free.

"This is the meat of the matter: The commanding officer ... has the absolute obligation to make sure the area is free," Rear Admiral Konetzni, said. "That's what caused this collision, plus the fact that the stars and the moon and a few other things weren't going right."

Rear Admiral Konetzni took the stand as a navy court of inquiry at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, into the accident on February 9 entered its second week. He called Waddle "one of my best friends", but also squarely placed responsibility for the accident on the commander's shoulders.

"I hold him accountable," Konetzni said, although he added under questioning from Waddle's lawyers that he did not believe the skipper was criminally negligent.

The investigative hearing could lead to courts-martial of Waddle; the Greeneville's executive officer, Lt Cmdr Gerald Pfeifer; and the officer of the deck, Lt jg Michael Coen.

The submarine was demonstrating a rapid-surfacing drill for 16 civilian guests when it rammed the Ehime Maru and sent it plunging to the ocean floor. The vessel, carrying 35 people, was on an expedition to teach high school students the commercial fishing trade. Nine people, including four students, were killed.

A navy investigator testified last week that several factors contributed to the accident, including a communications barrier created by the civilian guests being crammed into the control room.

Konetzni dismissed that, however, insisting the civilians "had nothing to do with this - not a thing".