I think that speaks more to journalistic accuracy than assignment of fault.Interesting that the article is "US aircraft carrier collides with cargo ship", not Cargo ship collides with navy aircraft carrier.
I just saw a picture in a news story about an airplane that had a window problem. The picture was of a 777.
The airplane was a 737.
Which headline n grabs you more? US Aircraft carrier collides with cargo ship - or - Cargo ship collides with US Aircraft carrier?
The Carrier as the lead word is more dramatic - so, they went with that.