The submarine USS Greeneville has returned to sea for the first time since its collision with a Japanese fishing vessel Feb. 9.

The submarine left Pearl Harbor at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for sea trials that are expected to take up to two days.

The Greeneville had been in dry dock at Pearl Harbor until earlier this month to undergo $2 million in repairs to its rubber exterior.

Nine people died when the Greeneville surfaced beneath the Ehime Maru nine miles off Waikiki while the submarine's crew was demonstrating a rapid-surfacing drill for a group of civilians.

The submarine is under the command of a new skipper. Capt. Tony Cortese takes over for Cmdr. Scott Waddle, who faces a possible court-martial for his role in the collision.

However, Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, told KITV4 News that he believes that Waddle should not face military prosecution.

The Greeneville was originally scheduled to deploy in June for six months to the Western Pacific.

Previous Stories:

• April 10, 2001: Report: Court Of Inquiry Divided
• April 9, 2001: Families Retract Demands To Raise Ehime Maru
• April 2, 2001: USS Greenville Leaves Dry Dock
• March 30, 2001: Admirals Nearly Complete Navy Inquiry
• March 22, 2001: Civilians Ride Navy Subs Again
• March 22, 2001: Civilians Describe Sub Experience
• March 21, 2001: Mori Pays Tribute To Ehime Maru Victims
• March 20, 2001: Sub Technician Stopped Tracking Japanese Ship
• March 20, 2001: Report: Substance Abuse Growing In Hawaii
• March 19, 2001: Ferry Project Report Released
• March 17, 2001: Minutes Could Have Stopped Sub Collision
• March 15, 2001: Ehime Maru Captain Describes Collision
• March 14, 2001: Sub Commander's Style At Heart Of Inquiry
• March 13, 2001: Admiral: Sub Commander Responsible For Safety
• 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: Cheap Tickets Hits 10 Million Online Subscribers
• 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 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: Latest On Submarine Crash Investigation
• 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