The U.S. Navy has rescheduled the Court Of Inquiry into the Feb. 9 USS Greeneville collision off Oahu until March 5. The delay was approved Thursday by U.S. Pacific Forces commander Adm. Thomas Fargo to allow the attorney for the Greeneville's skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle, more time to prepare his case. The inquiry had been scheduled to begin Monday at Pearl Harbor. Waddle has retained Virginia-based attorney Charles Gittins, a specialist in military law. Gittins has taken part in several high-profile military cases, such as the sexual harassment court-martial of former Army Sgt. Major Gene McKinney. Meanwhile, military sources told KITV4 News that the Navy is expected to soon release a new policy on allowing civilians on submarines.

USS GREENEVILLE

Commissioned: Feb. 16, 1996

Los Angeles-class attack nuclear submarine

Homeported in Pearl Harbor in March 1997

Max crew: 130

EHIME MARU

Specs:

499 tons

190.8 feet long

30.5 feet wide

Max crew: 76

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:

How Crowded Was The Greeneville's Control Room?

CRASH RESOURCES:

Underwater Video Ship

Adm. Fargo Statement

U.S. Navy Statement

First Radio Transmission

Questions Of Ehime Maru Family Members

Fund Set Up For Ehime Maru Victims

WEB LINKS

How A Sub Works
Search Area U.S.S Greeneville
Pacific Cmdr. Submarine Hawaii Navy

Pentagon officials said that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is preparing to order a moratorium on allowing civilians at the controls of any military ship, aircraft or vehicle. It's in response to the U.S. submarine Greeneville's collision that sank a Japanese fishing vessel off Diamond Head on February ninth. Rumsfeld's spokesman, Rear Admiral Craig Quigley, said that the order may be issued by the end of the week. Quigley notes that the Navy ordered that civilians not be permitted at control stations after it was learned that two civilians were at control positions of the Greeneville at the time of the collision. The possibility that the presence of civilians aboard the sub could have contributed to the accident is one of the subjects to be examined in a formal Navy court of inquiry being scheduled at Pearl Harbor. The Army announced last week that it temporarily stopped allowing civilians aboard its aircraft and tactical vehicles such as tanks. The Air Force and Marine Corps said they had taken no action in response to the sub collision. Sources said that the military may limit the number of civilians allowed on board at any one time. The policy also might restrict what types of submarines or types of maneuvers civilians can participate in. Adm. Thomas Fargo is expected to make a decision Thursday on whether to further delay the court of inquiry investigation into the collision between the USS Greeneville submarine and the Japanese fishing vessel Ehime Maru. Fargo is the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific. Navy officials told KITV4 News that the civilian attorney for Cmdr. Scott Waddle, the skipper of the submarine, asked for the start of the fact-finding hearing to be continued until early March. Officials said that Waddle's attorney, Charles Gittins, will be coming from the mainland. Gittins has told the Navy that he has conflicts with Monday's scheduled start date and needs further time to prepare his case. Anger Rages In Japan
Relatives of the victims of the collision between a U.S. submarine and a Japanese fishing boat are urging Japan to get more involved. Nine Japanese remain missing and are presumed dead after the sub surfaced into the boat off Hawaii on Feb. 9. Family members met separately Thursday with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and U.S. Ambassador Thomas Foley. They asked that every effort be made to recover the bodies - and they urged Mori not to leave the decision on whether to raise the boat to the United States alone. The families also complained that they're not getting enough answers. A father of one of the victims said that what happened aboard the sub is being revealed "bit by bit." Meantime, relatives of the missing want a Japanese-style apology from sub captain Scott Waddle, something they're not likely to get soon. The traditional apology usually involves tears, deep bows and begging for forgiveness. The demand for an apology has become a diplomatic sticking point. Two Navy submersibles are expected to go back into the water to search the wreckage of the Ehime Maru for the bodies of the nine missing sailors from the accident. The Coast Guard will also continue the search in waters around Oahu. Previous Stories:

• February 21, 2001: Navy Court Of Inquiry Could Be Delayed
• February 20, 2001: Greeneville Saw Ship An Hour Before Collision
• February 20, 2001: Navy Likely To Raise Ehime Maru
• February 20, 2001: Sub Mishap Survivors Still Haunted
• February 19, 2001: Robot Sub Hauled Out For Repairs
• February 19, 2001: Tennessee Town Supports Sub Crew
• February 16, 2001: Search Continues While NTSB Interviews Sub Crew
• February 15, 2001: Police Warn Of Sub Victim Fund Scam
• February 15, 2001: Japanese Outraged Over Sub Revelation
• February 15, 2001: Two Island Residents On Greeneville
• February 15, 2001: Help Identify The Civilians On The Sub
• February 14, 2001: Sub Captain Could Face Criminal Inquiry
• February 13, 2001: OHA Responds To State Audit
• February 12, 2001: Bush Offers Prayer For Sub Victims
• February 12, 2001: NTSB Begins Sub Collision Probe
• February 11, 2001: Ehime Maru Captain Speaks
• February 11, 2001: Sub Commander Reassigned As Search Continues
• February 11, 2001: Sub Collided During Emergency Maneuver