The U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry has recommended that the captain and fire control operator aboard the U.S. submarine that collided with a Japanese ship on Feb. 9 face admiral's masts, a nonjudicial punishment, rather than courts-martial, a source close to the investigation said Wednesday.
It was also recommended that six others be reprimanded over the sinking of the Ehime Maru, and the loss of nine lives, by the USS Greeneville, the source said.
A 2,000-page court of inquiry report was submitted on April 13, but its contents were not disclosed at that time.
It is now up to Adm. Thomas Fargo, as the convening authority, to consider the recommendations submitted by Vice Adm. John Nathman, Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan and Rear Adm. David Stone, who presided over the March 5-20 court of inquiry in Honolulu.