Mayport-bound future USS Billings hits moored ship in Canada

Jacksonville, FL — A Mayport-bound Littoral Combat Ship has “made contact” with a commercial vessel that was moored in Montreal.

The future USS Billings was getting underway when she allided with the ship Friday afternoon, according to Naval Surface Force Atlantic. The Navy is calling this an allision, as opposed to a collision, because the commercial ship was not in motion at the time.

Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic Public Information Officer Lieutenant Commander Courtney Hillson says the preliminary assessment shows minor damage, mainly to the ship’s starboard bridge wing. A full assessment of the damage is ongoing.

“The Navy is conducting an investigation to understand what happened and why, and we will incorporate lessons learned to ensure we conduct safe and effective operations,” Hillson tells WOKV.

She says there were no injuries reported to personnel on either ship.

According to the ship’s Commissioning Committee website, she is scheduled to be commissioned in Key West, FL in August. Hillson says that has not changed, despite this incident. Mayport is the East Coast hub for the LCS, specifically the Freedom-class variant of the ship.