US Navy Commander Relieved After LCS Hits a Cargo Ship in Canada

The commanding officer of a precommissioned littoral combat ship has been removed from his job after the vessel hit another ship in Canada last month.

Cmdr. Michael Johnson, commanding officer of the future littoral combat ship Billings’ blue crew, was relieved of command on Friday, Navy officials announced. The decision was made by Capt. Shawn Johnston, the head of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two, after the Billings struck the Canadian cargo ship Rosaire Desgagnes June 21.

Officials with Naval Surface Force Atlantic could not immediately be reached for comment about Johnson’s relief. Witnesses told First Coast News the future LCS somehow lost control after the lines from tugboats assisting it were let go when it was leaving the dock in the St. Lawrence River.

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There were no injuries reported, according to USNI News, which first reported Johnson’s relief following the accident. The incident remains under investigation and the ship, which sustained minor damage above the waterline, will temporarily remain in port in Montreal for a full damage assessment, according to the outlet.

“Video from the scene shows that Billings was stemming a strong current, and the direction of her exhaust stream suggests that the wind would have tended to set her towards shore,” the Maritime Executive reported after a video of the aftermath emerged on social media.

The Navy accepted delivery of the Billings, a Freedom-class LCS, in February. It’s scheduled to be commissioned on Aug. 3.

Cmdr. Nate Rowan, the LCS Wichita’s blue crew’s CO, has assumed command of the Billings. Rowan previously served as the Billings commander.

Navy leadership has faced scrutiny following a pair of fatal 2017 ship collisions which killed 17. That has resulted in sweeping changes to the surface-warfare officer qualification rules and other policies.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.