Remains of sailors found on warship US NAVY A RISK: CHINA PAPER
Singapore, Aug. 22: Divers have found the remains of some of the 10 sailors who went missing when a US destroyer collided with a tanker off Singapore, the Navy said on Tuesday.
The US Navy has announced a fleet-wide global investigation after the incident Monday involving the USS John S. McCain and the merchant vessel, which left a gaping gash in the destroyer’s hull. But Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, praised the surviving crew for saving the ship and saving lives, in the second collision involving an American warship in two months.
Speaking in Singapore, Mr Swift said “the divers were able to locate some remains in those sealed compartments during their search today” without saying how many bodies were found A US Navy statement confirmed he was referring to remains of some of the missing sailors.
Mr Swift said Malaysian authorities had also found a body and were sending it to the US Navy for identification. The Malaysian Navy said the body was found eight nautical miles northwest of the accident site. The Admiral said the search and rescue effort would continue. Beijing: The U.S. Navy’s latest collision at sea, the fourth in its Pacific fleet this year, shows it is becoming an increasing risk to shipping in Asia despite its claims of helping to protect freedom of navigation, an official Chinese newspaper said.
The USS John S. McCain and the tanker Alnic MC collided while the guidedmissile vessel was nearing Singapore on Monday.
The McCain’s crew were “tough, and they are resilient”, Mr Swift said. “It is clear that their damage
The state-run China Daily said in an editorial on Tuesday, “The investigations into the latest collision will take time to reach their conclusions, but there is no denying the fact that the increased activities by U.S. warships in Asia-Pacific since Washington initiated its rebalancing to the region are making them a growing risk to commercial shipping.” control efforts saved their ship and saved lives.”