Second US ship damaged in collision

– Ten US sailors were missing and five injured after their destroyer collided with a tanker east of Singapore early yesterday – the second accident involving an American warship in two months.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S McCain arrived in Singapore yesterday afternoon with a large hole torn in its hull after the pre-dawn accident sent water flooding into the vessel, the US Navy said.

A major search involving ships and aircraft from three countries was launched for the missing sailors after the warship collided with the Alnic MC near the Strait of Malacca.

“Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms,” the navy said after the vessel arrived at Changi Naval Base in the city-state.

“Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding.”

A helicopter took four of the injured to a Singapore hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, while the fifth did not need further medical attention, the navy said.

The 154-metre vessel could still sail under its own power after the collision with the Liberian-flagged tanker, which was slightly bigger at 182 metres. Two other vessels escorted it into port.

The warship had been heading for a routine stop in Singapore after carrying out a sensitive “freedom of navigation operation” in the disputed South China Sea earlier this month, sparking a furious response from Beijing. – AFP