Ten U.S. sailors are missing and five more were injured after the destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant ship east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca, the second Arleigh Burke-class destroyer to collide with a civilian vessel in the Western Pacific since June.
The Navy’s 7th Fleet said four of the injured sailors were medically evacuated by Singapore Navy Puma helicopter to a hospital in Singapore and treated for non-life threatening injuries; the fifth injured sailor did not require further medical attention.
McCain collided with the Alnic MC, which the Navy said is a Liberian-flagged “600-foot oil and chemical tanker with a gross tonnage of 30,000,” at 6:24 a.m. Monday local time. The ship was on its way to a port visit in Singapore.
“Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms. Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding,” 7th Fleet said in a release.
The ship has since arrived at Changi Naval Base in Singapore.
“Our first priority is determining the safety of the ship and crew,” tweeted Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations.
On June 17, the USS Fitzgerald collided with a freighter off the coast of Japan, killing seven sailors. The Navy last week fired the destroyer’s senior leadership after a report that documented the heroic of the crew to save the ship and each other.
#USSJohnSMcCain Update: The ship has arrived pier side at Changi Naval Base in Singapore. pic.twitter.com/tjB783d8Yh
— 7th Fleet (@US7thFleet) August 21, 2017
Search-and-rescue efforts are underway in coordination with local authorities. The 7th Fleet said tug boats out of Singapore, the Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Gallant (97), RSN helicopters and Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark were in the area to offer assistance. MV-22s and SH-60s from the amphibious assault ship USS America are also responding, the Navy said.
The 7th Fleet said the incident will be investigated.
An Emergency Family Assistance Center was established for family members, the 7th Fleet said in a tweet.
Large scale SAR for 10 missing sailors #USSJohnSMcCain off Johor coast involving RMN vessels and helo, MMEA, RMAF and Marine Police pic.twitter.com/HG2QTyobTS
— Chief of Navy – PTL (@mykamarul) August 21, 2017
President Trump, who was returning to Washington, D.C., Sunday evening from his 17-day “working” vacation, responded to shouted questions about news of the collision. “That’s too bad,” he said, according to the press pool.
He later tweeted his “thoughts and prayers” to the sailors.
The warship was named after John S. McCain, Sr., and John S. McCain, Jr., both admirals in the Navy.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recently visited the warship named after his grandfather and father, in Vietnam.
“Cindy & I are keeping America’s sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight – appreciate the work of search & rescue crew,” the senator said in a tweet Sunday night Eastern time.
