After two days of rough seas, the U.S. Navy launched the deep-sea remote-controlled submersible Scorpio II Friday afternoon to survey the area where the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru sank one week ago.

The Scorpio II will conduct the search under 1,800 feet of water using side-scan sonar to look for the vessel's wreckage.

The U.S. Coast Guard Friday allowed the families of the victims of the submarine collision to view the debris they collected at sea from the ill-fated Japanese fishing vessel.

The Ehime Maru sank a week ago when the USS Greeneville rammed into it during an emergency surfacing maneuver.

The items on display included life vests, life rafts, emergency kits, doors from the boat and pieces of the ship. Family members spent about an hour viewing the items, which the Coast Guard said was retreived within two days of the collision.

Members of the media were allowed to see the items after the families had left the area.

Meanwhile, civilian visitors on Navy submarines will be under some tighter rules for a while.

The Navy confirmed that it is ordering sub commanders not to perform emergency surfacing drills with civilians on board.

The order stands at least until the investigation into a sub collision with a Japanese fishing boat off Hawaii is finished.

The Navy's policy covering civilians aboard subs came under fire after it was learned that two civilians were at control posts on the USS Greeneville when it surfaced into the boat.

The Navy said that there's no evidence that they played any role in the accident - but as a precaution, commanders also are being ordered not to allow civilians at control stations.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators said Friday that it has started preliminary interviews with some of the 16 civilians who were on board the Greeneville during the collision. NTSB official John Hammerschmidt said that investigators in Washington have begun contacting the civilians by phone.

Hammerschmidt also disclosed that investigators tested the captain and two key crew members of the Ehime Maru for illegal drugs and alcohol. "The test results were all negative for all those tested," Hammerschmidt said.

Investigators are about halfway through interviewing the crew of the USS Greeneville. NTSB officials said that they would interview Cmdr. Scott Waddle last.

Waddle was reassigned following the incident.

Meantime, President Bush says the Pentagon should review its policy on civilian participation in military exercises.

Bush said that until the review is complete, he doesn't want to comment on the collision of the Greeneville with the Ehime Maru.

However, Bush said that the United States is doing everything it can concerning the incident.

He's repeating his apologies to the Japanese prime minister - saying the nation is "deeply sorry" about the accident.

In Japan, residents of the homeport village of the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru, said that it sounds like the crew of the USS Greeneville was "fooling around."

The nine missing people are still missing and presumed drowned.

The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard will keep ships at sea Friday to search for the nine missing crewmembers of the Ehime Maru at the request of the Japanese government.

Previous Stories:

• February 15, 2001: Search Continues While NTSB Interviews Sub Crew
• February 14, 2001: Two Island Residents On Greeneville
• February 14, 2001: U.S.-Japan Relations Turning Tense
• February 13, 2001: Sub Captain Could Face Criminal Inquiry
• February 12, 2001: Robot To Search For Sunken Ship
• February 12, 2001: Japanese Minister Meets With U.S. Admiral
• February 11, 2001: Search For Ehime Maru Victims To Continue
• February 11, 2001: Captain Of Ehime Maru Speaks
• February 11, 2001: Government Calls Submarine Collision 'Tragedy'
• February 10, 2001: Sub Commander Reassigned As Search Continues
• February 10, 2001: U.S. Offers Another Apology To Japan
• February 10, 2001: Anxiety Turns To Anger In Japanese Town
• February 10, 2001: Sub Collided During Emergency Maneuver