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| US Navy orders 'operational pause' after collision | US Navy orders 'operational pause' after collision |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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 US Navy has ordered a worldwide "operational pause" of its fleet after a destroyer collided with a tanker near Singapore, leaving 10 sailors missing. |
| Five other sailors were injured in the crash involving the guided missile destroyer USS John S McCain. | Five other sailors were injured in the crash involving the guided missile destroyer USS John S McCain. |
| The US Navy has ordered a wide investigation into its Pacific fleet following Monday morning's incident. | 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 this year and the second in the past two months. | |
| Navy Adm John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said in a statement: "This trend demands more forceful action. | Navy Adm John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, said in a statement: "This trend demands more forceful action. |
| "As such, I have directed an operational pause be taken in all of our fleets around the world." | "As such, I have directed an operational pause be taken in all of our fleets around the world." |
| What do we know about the collision? | What do we know about the collision? |
| The USS John S McCain was sailing east of Singapore when the collision with the Liberian-flagged vessel occurred. | The USS John S McCain was sailing east of Singapore when the collision with the Liberian-flagged vessel occurred. |
| 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. | 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 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 was 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 was 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. |
| Where are the missing sailors? | Where are the missing sailors? |
| US military helicopters as well as the Singaporean and Malaysian navies and coast guards are 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. | 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 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. |
| The Alnic MC made its way to the Raffles Reserved Anchorage in Singapore. | The Alnic MC made 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." |
| US Navy losing its edge? | US Navy losing its edge? |
| Jonathan Marcus, Defence Correspondent, BBC News | Jonathan Marcus, Defence Correspondent, BBC News |
| 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. | 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. |
| But are these unconnected episodes or part of a broader systemic failure? This is what the new review will have to find out. | But are these unconnected episodes or part of a broader systemic failure? This is what the new review will have to find out. |
| 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. | 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. |
| And the dramatic growth in merchant shipping - the real measure of our globalised world - means the sea-lanes are now more crowded than ever. | And the dramatic growth in merchant shipping - the real measure of our globalised world - means the sea-lanes are now more crowded than ever. |
| For years the US Navy has had no obvious peer competitor. And some fear that it may be losing its edge. | 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. | "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 McCain | USS John S McCain |
| Alnic MC | Alnic MC |
| Sources: US Navy, MarineTraffic.com, AFP | Sources: US Navy, MarineTraffic.com, AFP |