Singapore has expanded the search area in its bid to locate the remaining missing crew from a US Navy destroyer involved in a collision on Monday.
It has been than doubled to 5,524 sq km as the multi-agency search and rescue (SAR) effort was extended into a fourth day.
Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority (MPA) said more than 300 personnel from Singapore are being deployed for the operation.
“In the coordinated search efforts with the US, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia, Singapore and the US are covering the Central sector of the search area,” the MPA said.
“Malaysia, Australia and Indonesia are covering the North-west, North-east and Southern sectors respectively.”
In addition, MPA has been issuing hourly navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels of the incident and requesting them to keep a lookout for any persons in the water.
The USS John S McCain collided with Stealth Maritime’s 50,800-dwt Alnic MC (built 2008) early on Monday morning.
Ten US Navy sailors were reported missing with a further five injured. The injured sailors were released from hospital in Singapore on Thursday.
Divers have located some remains from the damaged parts of the US Navy ship, but no further details have been released. Diving operations are ongoing.
The Liberian-flagged Alnic MC sustained damage to her fore peak tank seven metres above the waterline, with no crew injuries.
The latest collision has spurred the US Navy to review safety after what is the second collision with a commercial ship in just over two months.
The service’s commander for naval operations has called for a comprehensive review to explore potential factors in the latest casualties, as well as a collision with a fishing vessel and a grounding.
