Image: SOUTH CHINA SEA (July 2, 2009) Amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) conducts operations in preparation for an underway replenishment. New Orleans is part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of global maritime security. Boxer ARG is operating in the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released) (Wikipedia)
A fire broke out on the USS New Orleans warship off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, on Wednesday, resulting in minor injuries to two sailors.
The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet confirmed that the fire on the amphibious transport dock ship has been extinguished and is now under investigation. The fire, which lasted nearly 12 hours, ignited while the 684-foot vessel was near the White Beach Naval Facility.
🇺🇸USS New Orleans has suffered a fire while operating off the coast of 🇯🇵Okinawa.
No injuries reported, ship returned to White Beach Naval Facility.
Video @nhk_news pic.twitter.com/k2ixT1s40r
— Navy Lookout (@NavyLookout) August 20, 2025
Crew members from the USS New Orleans received assistance from the USS San Diego, another transport warship, as well as the Japanese Coast Guard and military. The Navy stated that the crew remains aboard the ship, which was commissioned in 2007 and can hold up to 800 people.
This incident follows a previous fire that occurred on the USS Bonhomme Richard in San Diego in July 2020. That fire burned for five days, caused extensive damage to the ship, and led to it being scrapped. A Navy investigation into that incident concluded there were significant failures by the ship’s command and crew.