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Commander takes full responsibility in accident
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THE commander of the US nuclear submarine that surfaced and sank a Japanese fishing vessel killing nine people says he takes full responsibility for the accident and thinks now that the presence of 16 civilians aboard the sub was a contributing factor.
Cmdr Scott Waddle, who was relieved of command of the USS Greeneville after the collision, said: `` I gave the orders that resulted in the accident. And I take full responsibility. '' Waddle was frequently tearful during a series of interviews with the Time magazine and at one point declared, ``I am not tired of apologizing but I am tired of crying.''
Waddle added that the presence of 16 civilian VIPs aboard the sub might have been a distraction as the crew brought the submarine to the surface on Feb. 9 where it collided with the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishing and training vessel.
A US Navy court of inquiry into the collision off Hawaii has recommended measures that would probably end Waddle's career as a submarine commander but spare him a court martial, a Navy official said Sunday. The official, who did not want to be identified, said the recommendations, if implemented, meant Waddle would ``be out of the Navy, but at least he won't be in jail.''
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