Injured navy sailors and families of those killed in the 2017 collision between an NYK Line boxship and the warship USS Fitzgerald are suing the Japanese shipping giant in litigation seeking $265m.

In two lawsuits, both filed in New Orleans federal court this week, the 39 sailors hurt and the families of the seven killed accuse the 2,854-teu ACX Crystal (built 2008) of causing the US Navy's greatest loss of life at sea since 1975.