A US Navy Sailor, who died in an accident at Mina Salman port on Christmas Day, was yesterday identified as Master-at-Arms Seaman Apprentice (MASA) Joshua D Seitz.

He died from his injuries caused by a collision between the patrol boat he was on and a barge moored in the harbour on at 11pm on Thursday.

The collision resulted in sheering off the top portion of the 25-foot patrol boat, said a US Navy spokeswoman.

His two colleagues were transferred to Salmaniya Medical Complex, but their injuries were described as non-life threatening.

They were identified as Master-at-Arms seaman Recruit (MASR) Kelsey L Sanders and Master-at-Arms seaman (MASN) Matthew R Besade.

The patrol boat was en route to station and around 450 yards from the Mina Salman pier when it collided with the moored barge, said a navy statement.

It said the Kingston Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat had to be towed back to the Harbour Patrol Unit compound, but did not sink.

The injured sailors were transferred to the pier in a second Harbour Patrol Unit vessel. Naval Criminal Investigative Service experts, along with Bahrain Coastguard and port officials, are investigating. ATM Terminal Harbour and Marine manager Adel Al Maskati said they learnt about the crash only from media.