Malaysia, Singapore Join Search for Missing US Sailors

Ten U.S. sailors have been reported missing after a warship and a giant oil tanker collided Monday in waters claimed by both Malaysia and Singapore.

The destroyer USS John S. McCain and the Liberian-flagged merchant ship Alnic MC collided in the Singapore Strait east of the Strait of Malacca as the U.S. ship was heading toward Singapore for a port of call.

At least four countries were involved in searching for the missing sailors, in a search area encompassing 100 nautical square miles, CNN cited Malaysian officials as saying.

The incident reportedly took place near Pedra Branca island, in waters claimed by both Malaysia and Singapore.

In 2008, the International Court of Justice ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore and a nearby territory called Middle Rocks belonged to Malaysia, Reuters news agency reported. Malaysia sought a review of the ruling this year.

Five other U.S. sailors were injured in the collision that damaged the McCain’s hull and flooded some of its crew compartments.

“Our thoughts are with the injured and families of the U.S. Navy crew who are currently still missing following the incident in Singapore territorial waters. The Singapore authorities will spare no effort to try to find them, and render all possible assistance to our U.S. friends,” Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) chief Andrew Tan said in a statement.

MPA reported four of the injured were flown by a Singapore military helicopter and the fifth was taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital.

Damage is visible as the USS John S. McCain sails toward Changi Naval Base in Singapore, Aug. 21, 2017. (Courtesy U.S. Navy)

Search and rescue

Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Zulkifli Abu Bakar said Malaysia was in charge of the search efforts, but welcomed support from other nations.

“Our officers will be in communication with the Singapore authorities,” Zulkifli said. “One thing that is very clear, we do not want to have another collision.

“For the time being, I don’t think we should argue about whose waters because I think the most important thing is to focus on the search and rescue effort.”

He said navy ship KD Handalan was leading search efforts with two MMEA ships assisting, along with Malaysian aircraft and divers deployed to the scene.

Additionally, fishermen in Pahang and Johor areas had been advised to assist in the search for the missing victims.

Singapore’s MPA said it was notified of the collision at about 5:30 a.m. and was leading the search and rescue efforts. It reported the U.S. ship had berthed at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base while the tanker was being inspected at Singapore’s eastern anchorage.

Singapore Navy and Coast Guard deployed a frigate, four patrol ships and three helicopters along with 250 personnel for search and rescue operations. It also accepted the Indonesia government’s offer to aid in the efforts.

“Our two Indonesian ships KRI Cucut and KRI Pari are now at the scene of the accident,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters in Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

“Based on our monitoring so far, it is confirmed that there is no sign of an oil spill, so we are concentrating in looking for the missing persons,” she said.

This is the second collision involving a U.S. warship in the region in three months. On June 17, seven sailors died when another destroyer, the USS Fitzgerald, and a container ship collided in the Sea of Japan.