The man in charge of the Navy's submarine operations in the Pacific took the witness stand Monday in the Navy's court of inquiry into the USS Greeneville's collision with the Ehime Maru.

Rear Adm. Al Konetzni defended the Navy's "distinguished visitors" program, as the court began its second week. Konetzni called the program "critical" and added that "we can't give up this program."

He said that ride-alongs are the only way the Navy can help civilians truly understand how subs work. And he said that while the Greeneville had no official business but to entertain the 16 VIPs on Feb. 9, "that wasn't a joy ride. I detest those words. It was training," he said.

While Konetzni defended Navy practices, he also targeted the Greeneville's skipper, Cmdr. Scott Waddle.

"The commanding officer has the absolute obligation to make sure the area is free (of surface traffic)," Konetzni said. "This event would not have occured if the skipper had taken time.

"I don't call it criminal neglect, but it was too fast."

He also reflected talking to Waddle after a ride-along on the Greeneville a few years ago. "Hey, slow it down give the (crew) a chance to grow," he told Waddle. "You need to let the team catch up to you."

Capt. Robert Brandhuber took the stand later in the day. Brandhuber is Konetzni's chief of staff and was the escort for the 16 civilians guests on the day of the collision.

Brandhuber said that he noticed that Waddle was moving things along more quickly than he would have, but that the ship's crew seemed very competent and didn't feel alarmed enough to intervene.

He also said that Waddle may have divulged classified information to the civilians by taking the Greeneville to its most extreme operational depth and speed during the tour. Military observers told KITV4 News that the performance information should have never been given to civilians.

Earlier in the day, Navy officials cleared the courtroom during early testimony.

A security officer stood during to testimony to tell the panel that they were going into classified information.

Lt. Cmdr. Brent Filbert, attorney for Lt. Michael Coen, officer of the deck for the USS Greeneville, was questioning submarine expert Capt. Thomas Kyle on the accuracy of certain equipment.

The panel decided to hear more on non-classified questioning before clearing the courtroom.

Salvage Study

U.S. Navy officials said late Monday that a salvage operation for the Ehime Maru could be possible, but that it could cost about $40 million and take about six months to complete.

According to the study, salvaging the 190-foot vessel from 2,000 feet below the Pacific Ocean would be done in two stages, with the vessel being brought into shallow water before it is lifted above the surface. Such an operation would require approval from state and federal authorities.

The families of the nine missing sailors from the Ehime Maru said that they understand the need to be conscious of the environment during a salvage operation.

"I'm not asking the Navy to salvage the ship if it will hurt the environment," Kazuo Nakata, father of a missing crewman. "I want the U.S. Navy to come up with some kind of way to salvage the ship without hurting Hawaii's nature."

Previous Stories:

• March 12, 2001: Ehime Maru Captain Returns To Islands
• March 10, 2001: Attorney Challenges Expert Witness
• March 9, 2001: Waddle Apologizes To Families
• March 8, 2001: Waddle's Attorney Begins Cross-Examination
• March 7, 2001: Attorney: Waddle Will Not Testify
• March 6, 2001: Court Of Inquiry Looks For Answers
• March 3, 2001: Sub Skipper Wants Immunity
• March 2, 2001: Ehime Maru School Students Graduate
• March 1, 2001: Waddle: 'Part Of Me Died' In Collision
• March 1, 2001: Carlisle, Donohue Among Sub Guests
• February 27, 2001: Japan: Bush Considering Salvage Of Sunken Ship
• February 26, 2001: Waddle Has 'Sincere Regret' About Collision
• February 25, 2001: Sub Investigation Could Widen
• February 22, 2001: Navy Court Of Inquiry Could Be Delayed
• February 20, 2001: Navy Likely To Raise Ehime Maru
• February 20, 2001: Sub Mishap Survivors Still Haunted
• February 19, 2001: Sucess Of Raising Ehime Maru 'Questionable'
• 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: Ehime Maru Crew Describes Disaster
• 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