1. USN FFG Grounding 20 October, 1999

2. EGYPT Pilot pick up point Alexandria El Dikheila
▬ On 20 October 1999, while participating in bilateral exercise Bright Star 99 with the Egyptian navy, the FFG was preparing to enter the port of Alexandria, Egypt.
▬ The FFG requested permission to enter port from Alexandria port authority, but there was considerable difficulty understanding the response due to lack of English language proficiency.
▬ The CO understood permission was granted to enter port and agreed to meet the pilot at 1715.
▬ There was sufficient confusion in regard to diplomatic clearance for entering port, delaying a 0630 pier side arrival.
Pilot pick up point
Alexandria
EGYPT
El Dikheila

3. El Dikheila Channel Great Pass Channel Soundings in Meters
500 Yds
Pilot Pickup 20 10
Soundings in Meters
Great Pass Channel
El Dikheila Channel
“D1”
“4”
“D3”
9 m light
“2”
The ship proceeded inshore of the pilot pickup point into the junction of the Great Pass and El-Dakheila Channels to meet the pilot boat.
1725
1720: The ship passed within 30 yards of shoal water while making a turn around buoy “2”.
1715
1725
1725(approx): CG disembarks pilot into the pilot boat and clears the area.
1717
1720
1720
1717: A USN CG requested the FFG to clear the channel, as there was not sufficient room for both ships.
CG 1717

4. El Dikheila Channel Great Pass Channel Soundings in Meters
1725: FFG steady on 325°T headed away from the channel and shoal water, setting up for second approach to pilot pick up point. 20 10
1725
Pilot Pickup
1739
Ship shudders, shudders a second time. CO orders ‘all stop’, ‘let go the anchor’. CONN orders ‘all stop’.
“2”
1750 10
1800 20
“4”
“D1”
1750 10
1751(approx): Bridge-to-bridge radio communications with Alexandria port authority indicated there was no pilot available for the FFG and the ship did not have permission to enter port.
1753
1757
1755 10
9 m light
1739
“D3”
Great Pass Channel 10
1755: XO (CONN) “I am Bailing out.”
El Dikheila Channel
500 Yds
Soundings in Meters

5. THE END