Collision of US Navy Destroyer and Oil Tanker Near Singapore; 10 Sailors Missing

The USS John S. McCain destroyer of the United States Navy collided with an oil tanker in the waters east of Singapore on August 30. While search and rescue operations are underway, the US Navy has announced that 10 of its sailors are missing. The collision between the warship and the commercial vessel has also resulted in five injuries. Damage has been inflicted on the destroyer, although the US Navy emphasized that no additional ship was needed to return it to port. According to Thomson Reuters Icon, the tanker involved in the collision is a 183-meter vessel flying the Liberian flag, capable of carrying both oil and chemicals. According to a statement from the US Army, a Singaporean warship, along with several helicopters and coast guard personnel, is present at the scene to provide assistance. The USS John S. McCain, which carries guided missiles, belongs to the US Navy's Seventh Fleet. This is the second time in the past two months that a warship from this fleet has collided with a commercial vessel in the Pacific Ocean. On June 17, the USS Fitzgerald collided with a commercial ship near the coast of Japan, resulting in seven missing and three injured. Following the June incident, the captain of the USS Fitzgerald was relieved of command, and disciplinary actions were taken against several other sailors. In late May, a US Navy warship also collided with a South Korean fishing vessel, but both ships were able to continue on their way. The Seventh Fleet's headquarters is in Japan. The USS John S. McCain was en route to Singapore for routine port operations. According to information published on the Navy's website, the home port of the John S. McCain is Yokosuka, Japan, and it has 23 senior officers, 24 junior officers, and 291 sailors.