US Navy Oiler Reportedly Runs Aground Near Oman
25th September 2024
The 33-year-old ship was built by Avondale Shipyard and entered service in 1992. Military Sealift Command operates 14 Kaiser-class vessels including the Big Horn, at least six of which are slated for removal from service in the next five years, to be replaced by the John Lewis class — 746-foot ships that can carry nearly 50,000 tons of fuel and supplies.
The Big Horn is the only Navy oiler operating in the Middle East. According to MarineTraffic, an app that provides real time and approximate locations for maritime vessels worldwide, seven ships in the class currently are operating in U.S. waters, five are in the Pacific area of operations, and one is near Italy.
The USNS John Lewis was last reported in Portland, Oregon, while the Harvey Milk, also a Lewis-class tanker, is in Norfolk, Virginia.
Oops.
UPDATE: US Navy Oiler Runs Aground Off Oman Coast, Forcing Carrier Strike Group To Scramble For Fuel