National News

Former skipper involved in Ehime Maru accident visits Japan to make apologies

The Former skipper of a U.S. Navy submarine involved in a fatal collision with a Japanese vessel off Hawaii last year expressed his apologies and placed flowers at a memorial for the victims Dec. 15.

The skipper, Scott Waddle, was captain of the 6,080-ton USS Greeneville when it collided with and sunk the 499-ton Japanese fisheries training ship Ehime Maru during a rapid-surfacing maneuver that was part of a demonstration for civilian guests aboard.

The incident occurred Feb. 9, 2001, killing nine aboard the Ehime Maru, including four Uwajima Fisheries High School students

Waddle, who has since been reprimanded and discharged from the navy, met with four of the student survivors and their families at a hotel in the city of Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, and apologized to them

A doctor who was present at the meeting said Waddle was tearful, and quoted the former navy officer as telling them that he wished he were on the vessel when it went down. The doctor added that Waddle also expressed hope that his direct apology to them would help improve the conditions of those suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder.

Shortly after the accident, Waddle had said in a letter to the bereaved that he wanted to directly convey his apologies to the families.

Also on his visit, Waddle read aloud a written message after placing a flower wreath at the memorial at the Uwajima Fisheries High School. None of the survivors or bereaved families were present, apparently because the school had rejected his offer to visit the memorial. No school officials came to greet him.

Waddle later told reporters: "I am sincerely sorry for the events that led to the tragic collision at sea. ... I grieve for the families who lost loved ones." He added that the incident completely changed his life, and that he would live with the pain of it for the rest of his life.

Shukan ST: Dec. 27, 2002

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