Commander of Naval Fleet Relieved of Duty After Collisions<br />Divers have found remains of missing American sailors in the flooded compartments of the Navy destroyer John<br />S. McCain, which collided with an oil tanker on Monday off the coast of Singapore, Admiral Swift said.<br />But he noted that the investigation was in its earliest stages and said, “We are not taking any consideration off the table.”<br />The destroyer is named after John S. McCain Sr. and John S. McCain Jr., Navy admirals<br />who were the grandfather and father of Senator John McCain of Arizona.<br />Vice Adm. Joseph P. Aucoin, the head of the Seventh Fleet, the Navy’s largest overseas, was removed Wednesday in connection with<br />the four accidents since January, including two fatal collisions in the past two months, according to a statement by the Navy.<br />“The new Seventh Fleet commander must help move his team forward, focusing efforts on safe and effective operations.”<br />The admiral’s removal comes as the Navy is preparing to conduct an extremely rare suspension of ship<br />operations worldwide for a day or two in the next week to review safety and operational procedures.<br />Admiral Aucoin is being replaced by Rear Adm. Phil Sawyer, “who has already been nominated<br />and confirmed for the position and promotion to vice admiral,” the Navy statement said.
