Argentina court convicts ex-commander in ARA San Juan submarine sinking case

A court in Rio Gallegos has convicted a former commander of Argentina's submarine force in connection with the 2017 sinking of the ARA San Juan, which claimed the lives of all 44 crew members. The Federal Oral Court found Captain Claudio Villamide guilty of dereliction of duty and negligent homicide by a two-to-one vote.

However, the court acquitted three other senior officers, including Admiral Luis López Mazzeo, the commander of naval operations, and two other submarine command officials. The full reasoning behind the verdict is expected on the 21st of next month.

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If the navigators of the submarine had not been convinced of the good conditions of the ship, they simply would not have set sail.

The ruling has sparked criticism, with many questioning the conviction of a superior officer when the precise cause of the submarine's catastrophic loss remains undetermined, almost nine years after the incident. During the four-month trial, over 90 witnesses, including numerous senior submariners and naval logistics experts, testified. Their statements suggested the submarine was seaworthy and capable of its mission when it departed. They also indicated that pending repairs were not a risk factor and certainly not the cause of the tragedy.

Critics argue that the conviction deepens existing questions rather than providing closure. They point to naval tradition and regulations, which emphasize the ultimate responsibility of a ship's commander for its readiness and decision to sail. The article suggests that if the submarine's equipment was sound, its crew experienced, and its officers diligent, the conviction of a superior officer for an event whose cause is still unknown is perplexing.

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Those who argued that the accused sought to shift responsibility for what happened onto the commander of the San Juan and his crew do not understand naval tradition, maritime customs, or the regulations governing nautical activity.