Another Collision between US Destroyer and Freight Vessel Occurs

SINGAPORE – Two months after the USS Fitzgerald collided with an NYK container ship, comes the news that the US Navy destroyer, the USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), has collided with the Liberian-flagged 30,000 gross tonne tanker, the Alnic MC, both en route to Singapore. At this time the US Navy is reporting that ten of its sailors are missing and another five are injured, four of whom were evacuated to Singapore for treatment.

According to a statement put out by the US Navy, the collision was reported at 0524 local time on August 21. The McCain has suffered significant damage to the hull and flooding in the crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms. However, the flooding was contained and the vessel proceeded under its own power to Singapore.

Operators of the Alnic MC, the Stealth Maritime Corporation, confirmed that the vessel sustained damage to a tank near the front of the ship 7 metres above the waterline. None of the crew were injured and though the vessel was carrying 12,000 tonnes of oil there has been no leakage. Under her own power, the Alnic proceeded to Singapore, where she is now anchored for assessment. The Alnic MChad been transiting from Mai Liao in Taiwan to Singapore with a partial load of fuel oil at the time of the incident.

An air/sea search and rescue operation is currently underway involving the US, Singapore and Malaysian navies to see if any of the missing crew can be recovered.