Update: Alnic MC, John S. McCain Arrive in Singapore for Inspection
Image Courtesy: DVIDS HubThe Liberian-flagged oil/chemical tanker Alnic MC has reached Singapore’s eastern anchorage for inspections following the collision with the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer John S. McCain while underway east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
The tanker, owned by Brave Maritime Corporation from Greece, suffered damage to its fore peak tank 7 meters above the waterline, based on initial information. However, the ship’s crew remained unhurt.
“As a result of the collision Alnic MC sustained a gash to the starboard side of the bow above the waterline, there were no injuries to crew and no reported pollution of the Singapore Strait. The vessel is now safely anchored off Singapore for assessment,” Stealth Maritime Corporation, manager of the tanker said.
The Alnic MC had been transiting from Mai Liao in Taiwan to Singapore with a partial load of 12,000MT of fuel oil at the time of the incident, the company explained.
“Stealth Maritime Corporation is cooperating fully with the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) in their investigations into the collision.”
The US Navy ship arrived at Changi Naval Base earlier today and has reported 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, the US Navy said.
Search and rescue efforts on the scene for the missing crew members are continuing. In total, some 250 personnel from the various Singapore agencies were deployed on the scene for the SAR operations, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
As of 1800 hours, five sorties have been carried out, MPA said, adding that it has been issuing hourly navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels of the incident and requested them to keep a lookout for any persons in the water.
“As at 2030 hours, SAR operations are still underway to locate the 10 crew who are unaccounted for. Efforts will continue through the night at sea with the Republic of Singapore Navy and PCG vessels deployed, even as the US investigates the damaged interior of USS John S. McCain,” the MPA told World Maritime News in an update.
MPA is investigating the incident.
World Maritime News Staff
