doing to try to fix the larger problems this string of mishaps may reveal. but first, jim sciutto has late word on what may have caused this particular collision. jim, what are you hearing? >> reporter: a navy official is telling me that the crew lost steering. the simple ability to steer as it was entering these busy shipping lanes. and they -- this is crucial as well. they weren't, for some reason, able to activate the backup steering system, which these advanced destroyers have. they don't know why they weren't able to do that. it was only after the collision that the crew was able to regain steering again. >> it wasn't that they didn't see this ship, but they lost power. >> they lost the ability to steer out of the way of it. so equally concerning. this is the early part of the investigation, so they're just beginning to see why that is. was it a human error, a mechanical error? the steering, it's not like you have a big screw that turns the screws. there are wires connecting it. so it could be anything along that series.