USS Lake Champlain collides with S. Korean vessel in international waters

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain collided with a South Korean fishing vessel Tuesday while conducting routine operations in international waters.

The U.S. Navy and South Korea Coast Guard have launched an investigation into the non-injury mishap and damage assessments are underway for both the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser and the 60- to 70-foot long fishing vessel, according to the Navy.

The 568-foot-long Lake Champlain departed Naval Base San Diego Jan. 6 to join the Carl Vinson Strike Group, which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, embarked Carrier Air Wing 2, and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer and USS Michael Murphy.