US Nuclear sub sinks Japanese trawler

TOKYO (Reuters) - A U.S. nuclear submarine off Hawaii struck and sank a Japanese fishing trawler carrying 35 people, including several high school students, and hopes were fading for nine people still missing, officials said.


"We remain hopeful, but as the hours pass any chance of finding survivors diminishes," said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Gary Openshaw in Honolulu.


The nine Japanese still unaccounted for were four students, two teachers and three crew, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.


Anxious parents and students were gathered at the Uwajima Marine and Fisheries High School in Ehime Prefecture on the main southern island of Shikoku to await developments.


"I am hoping and praying that they will be found safe and sound," Vice Principal Kazumitsu Jyoko told Reuters.


The rescue operation involved two navy Seahawk helicopters and a Coast Guard rescue airplane as well as several boats in the area where the 499-tonne Ehime Maru sank, about nine miles south of Diamond Head off Hawaii, U.S. navy officials said.


At least 26 people, including nine students, had been rescued from the trawler, which was being used to train the second-year fishery students and was observing tuna stocks, Japanese coast guard officials said.


Eight of the rescued were injured and had been taken to hospital, said Japan's Foreign Ministry.


"We must first do our best in rescuing the missing people. We then have to talk with the U.S. government to determine the cause of the incident," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda. The United States had apologised, he said.


SUBMARINE SURFACED SUDDENLY


The U.S. navy said the collision involving the USS Greeneville, a nuclear attack submarine based in Pearl Harbour, occurred at 2345 GMT on Friday.


"A U.S. submarine on routine operations was surfacing when its stern apparently collided with a motor vessel," said Lt. Jensin Sommer, a Navy spokeswoman at the Pentagon.


"The motor vessel subsequently sank," she said.


There was no visible damage to the submarine, she said.


Japanese broadcaster NHK quoted the Ehime Maru's captain as saying: "The submarine surfaced suddenly and collided with us."


The Greeneville was on the surface of the sea taking part in rescue operations, the U.S. navy said.


The training vessel had left Japan on January 10 and was scheduled to return on March 23.


"The navy will conduct a complete investigation into the incident," the U.S. navy statement said.


The big Los Angeles Class submarines are 110 metres (360 ft) long and normally carry a crew of 133. Submarines in the class can be equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as carrying torpedoes.


Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Foreign Minister Yohei Kono formed an emergency group to deal with the accident and had included officials from the U.S. embassy.


A White House spokeswoman said "the president was notified and the State Department notified the Japanese Ambassador" of the incident