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US Navy orders fleet investigation after collision US Navy orders 'operational pause' after collision
(about 1 hour later)
The US Navy has ordered a wide investigation into its Pacific fleet after a US destroyer collided with an oil tanker near Singapore. The US Navy has ordered a worldwide "operational pause" of its fleet after a destroyer collided with a tanker near Singapore, leaving 10 sailors missing.
The inquiry will look at "all related accidents at sea", US Defence Secretary James Mattis said in Amman, Jordan. Five other sailors were injured in the crash involving the guided missile destroyer USS John S McCain.
Ten US Navy sailors are missing and five were injured in the early Monday morning collision. The US Navy has ordered a wide investigation into its Pacific fleet following Monday morning's incident.
It was the fourth crash involving a US Navy ship in the past two years and the second in the past two months.It was the fourth crash involving a US Navy ship in the past two years and the second in the past two months.
Navy Adm John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, has directed Adm Phil Davidson, the head of the Navy's Fleet Forces, to lead the investigation. Navy Adm John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said in a statement: "This trend demands more forceful action.
General Mattis told reporters on Monday the inquiry would also examine an accident in June, when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in Japanese waters and killed seven sailors. "As such, I have directed an operational pause be taken in all of our fleets around the world."
Mr Richardson wanted to make sure there were not bigger problems with the high pace of ship operations in the Pacific region, the AP news agency reported, citing a US defence official.
The guided missile destroyer USS John S McCain was sailing east of Singapore and preparing to stop in the port when the collision with the Liberian-flagged vessel occurred.
A wide-ranging search and rescue operation is under way.
What do we know about the collision?What do we know about the collision?
It was reported before dawn at 05:24 local time on Monday (21:24 GMT on Sunday) and took place east of the Strait of Singapore, as the USS John S McCain prepared to perform a routine port stop in Singapore. The USS John S McCain was sailing east of Singapore when the collision with the Liberian-flagged vessel occurred.
Singapore and US authorities said the destroyer sustained damage to her port side, which is the left-hand side of the vessel facing forward. It was reported before dawn at 05:24 local time on Monday (21:24 GMT on Sunday) and took place east of the Strait of Singapore, as the American vessel went for a routine port stop in Singapore.
The destroyer sustained damage to her port side, which is the left-hand side of the vessel facing forward.
The tanker it collided with, Alnic MC, sustained damage to a tank near the front of the ship 7m (23ft) above the waterline, but none of its crew were injured and there were no oil spills.The tanker it collided with, Alnic MC, sustained damage to a tank near the front of the ship 7m (23ft) above the waterline, but none of its crew were injured and there were no oil spills.
At 182m (600ft), the tanker is slightly longer than the 154m-long US destroyer.At 182m (600ft), the tanker is slightly longer than the 154m-long US destroyer.
What is happening now? Where are the missing sailors?
US military helicopters as well as the Singaporean and Malaysian navies and coast guards are currently conducting search and rescue operations. US military helicopters as well as the Singaporean and Malaysian navies and coast guards are conducting search and rescue operations.
Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Kamarulzaman said a message had been sent to fishing vessels along the Johor and Pahang coasts to keep a look out for missing sailors. Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Kamarulzaman said a message had been sent to fishing vessels along the Johor and Pahang coasts to keep a look out.
A Malaysian Navy spokesman later told a news conference: "The waves are between 0.5m and 1.5m, so the sea is quite rough and can be very challenging if you don't have a life jacket."A Malaysian Navy spokesman later told a news conference: "The waves are between 0.5m and 1.5m, so the sea is quite rough and can be very challenging if you don't have a life jacket."
The US Navy said four of the injured sailors had non-life threatening injuries and were medically evacuated to a Singapore hospital. The fifth person did not require further medical attention.The US Navy said four of the injured sailors had non-life threatening injuries and were medically evacuated to a Singapore hospital. The fifth person did not require further medical attention.
The US Navy 7th Fleet later issued a statement saying the USS John S McCain had now arrived at Singapore's Changi naval base. The US Navy 7th Fleet later issued a statement saying the USS John S McCain had arrived at Singapore's Changi naval base.
It said: "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 Alnic MC made its way to the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore.
The Alnic MC is making its way to the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore.
One crew member of the oil tanker told Reuters over the phone that the vessel sustained some damage to a valve. The ship was carrying nearly 12,000 tonnes of oil from Taiwan to Singapore, the news agency reported.One crew member of the oil tanker told Reuters over the phone that the vessel sustained some damage to a valve. The ship was carrying nearly 12,000 tonnes of oil from Taiwan to Singapore, the news agency reported.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: "There is no report of oil pollution and traffic in the Singapore Strait is unaffected."The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: "There is no report of oil pollution and traffic in the Singapore Strait is unaffected."
Repeat event raises questions US Navy losing its edge?
Karishma Vaswani, BBC News, Singapore Jonathan Marcus, Defence Correspondent, BBC News
The timing of this is awkward for the United States. It's the first day of annual drills between the US and South Korean armies, a show of might in the face of North Korean belligerence. Two serious collisions with merchant vessels; some 17 crew members dead or missing; and two guided missile destroyers of the US Seventh Fleet out of action for months - good reason then for a thorough review.
The USS John McCain is part of the US Navy's 7th Fleet, its largest fleet, but this accident will add to questions about the operations of the navy in the region more widely. But are these unconnected episodes or part of a broader systemic failure? This is what the new review will have to find out.
This is the same naval group that saw a similar accident only in June, when seven US sailors lost their lives. Just last week several officers were disciplined in relation to that incident. Analysts and former officers note the high tempo of operations. The US Navy - despite its size - is just not large enough, they say, to do everything that is asked of it. Training inevitably suffers.
This is also thought to be the fourth such collision involving US warships in the past year alone. And the dramatic growth in merchant shipping - the real measure of our globalised world - means the sea-lanes are now more crowded than ever.
Add to this the confusion earlier this year over the whereabouts of another US warship in the Pacific - the USS Carl Vinson - which President Trump said was sailing for North Korea, but was actually headed in the opposite direction for training exercises with the Australian navy. For years the US Navy has had no obvious peer competitor. And some fear that it may be losing its edge.
What's the response so far?What's the response so far?
US senator John McCain tweeted that he and his wife were praying for the sailors. US Senator John McCain tweeted that he and his wife were praying for the sailors.
The vessel was named after his father and grandfather, both admirals in the Navy.The vessel was named after his father and grandfather, both admirals in the Navy.
"I agree with Admiral Richardson that more forceful action is urgently needed to identify and correct the causes of the recent ship collisions," he added.
US President Donald Trump has also put out a tweet about the accident.US President Donald Trump has also put out a tweet about the accident.
What happened in the previous collisions?What happened in the previous collisions?
This is the fourth time in a year that a US navy vessel has been involved in an accident.This is the fourth time in a year that a US navy vessel has been involved in an accident.
Just two months ago, seven US sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in Japanese waters near the port city of Yokosuka.Just two months ago, seven US sailors were killed when the USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship in Japanese waters near the port city of Yokosuka.
Those who died were found in flooded berths on board the ship after the collision caused a gash under the warship's waterline.Those who died were found in flooded berths on board the ship after the collision caused a gash under the warship's waterline.
The US Navy said last week that about a dozen sailors would be disciplined, and the commanding officer and other senior crew would be taken off the ship.The US Navy said last week that about a dozen sailors would be disciplined, and the commanding officer and other senior crew would be taken off the ship.
In May, a guided missile cruiser collided with a South Korean fishing vessel, while in August last year a submarine collided with an offshore support vessel.In May, a guided missile cruiser collided with a South Korean fishing vessel, while in August last year a submarine collided with an offshore support vessel.
USS John S McCainUSS John S McCain
Alnic MCAlnic MC
Sources: US Navy, MarineTraffic.com, AFPSources: US Navy, MarineTraffic.com, AFP