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Divers Find Remains in Search of U.S. Navy Ship Damaged in Collision Divers Find Remains in Search of U.S. Navy Ship Damaged in Collision
(about 1 hour later)
SINGAPORE — Divers have found remains of missing American sailors in the flooded compartments of the Navy destroyer John S. McCain, which collided with an oil tanker on Monday off the coast of Singapore, the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet said Tuesday.SINGAPORE — Divers have found remains of missing American sailors in the flooded compartments of the Navy destroyer John S. McCain, which collided with an oil tanker on Monday off the coast of Singapore, the commander of the United States Pacific Fleet said Tuesday.
The commander, Adm. Scott H. Swift, did not say how many bodies had been recovered from the ship, which is docked at Changi Naval Base here. He also said that the Malaysian Navy, which is part of the search effort, had reported recovering a body at sea that might be one of the 10 missing sailors. The commander, Adm. Scott H. Swift, declined to say how many bodies had been located in the ship, which is docked at Changi Naval Base here. He also said that the Malaysian Navy, which is part of the search effort, had reported recovering a body at sea that might be one of the 10 missing sailors.
“We have discovered other bodies during the diving on the McCain today,” Admiral Swift said at a news conference, held within sight of the damaged ship. “But it is premature to say how many or what the status of the recovery of those bodies is.”“We have discovered other bodies during the diving on the McCain today,” Admiral Swift said at a news conference, held within sight of the damaged ship. “But it is premature to say how many or what the status of the recovery of those bodies is.”
The body found by the Malaysian Navy is being handed over to the Americans for identification.The body found by the Malaysian Navy is being handed over to the Americans for identification.
Ships and aircraft from five nations have been searching for the sailors near the site of the collision, in waters claimed by both Malaysia and Singapore. Each of those two countries claimed to be leading the search effort at sea, which includes ships and planes from the United States, Indonesia and Australia.Ships and aircraft from five nations have been searching for the sailors near the site of the collision, in waters claimed by both Malaysia and Singapore. Each of those two countries claimed to be leading the search effort at sea, which includes ships and planes from the United States, Indonesia and Australia.
Admiral Swift said the search at sea would continue despite the discovery of remains in the ship. “The focus of the United States Pacific Fleet is our 10 missing sailors and their families,” he said. “We are always hopeful there are survivors.”Admiral Swift said the search at sea would continue despite the discovery of remains in the ship. “The focus of the United States Pacific Fleet is our 10 missing sailors and their families,” he said. “We are always hopeful there are survivors.”
The collision was the second in two months involving a destroyer from the Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan.The collision was the second in two months involving a destroyer from the Navy’s Seventh Fleet, which is based in Yokosuka, Japan.
In June, the destroyer Fitzgerald collided with a cargo ship off Japan. Soon afterward, searchers found the bodies of seven missing sailors in its flooded berthing compartments.In June, the destroyer Fitzgerald collided with a cargo ship off Japan. Soon afterward, searchers found the bodies of seven missing sailors in its flooded berthing compartments.
After the collision on Monday, Adm. John Richardson, the Navy’s top officer, announced that all 277 Navy ships worldwide would take an “operational pause” for one or days to review basic seamanship, teamwork and other “fundamentals.”After the collision on Monday, Adm. John Richardson, the Navy’s top officer, announced that all 277 Navy ships worldwide would take an “operational pause” for one or days to review basic seamanship, teamwork and other “fundamentals.”
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters that an inquiry into the collision had already begun. “We obviously have an investigation underway and that will determine what happened,” he said.Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters that an inquiry into the collision had already begun. “We obviously have an investigation underway and that will determine what happened,” he said.
At his news conference Tuesday, Admiral Swift discounted suggestions that the crew of the McCain had been overworked or underprepared. He also said there were no signs of failure in the ship’s steering system or of a cyberattack, two possibilities that have been mentioned in news reports. At his news conference Tuesday, Admiral Swift discounted suggestions that the crew of the McCain had been overworked or underprepared. He said the crew responded quickly after the collision, righted the ship and prevented an even bigger disaster.
“The investigation is in its very earliest stages,” he said. “We are not taking any consideration off the table.” “I was on the McCain this morning and looking at the eyes of those sailors, and even after their heroic efforts yesterday I didn’t see exhaustion,” he said. “I didn’t see a crew that was taking a knee, so to speak. They are on their game.”
The admiral said there were no signs of failure in the ship’s steering system or of a cyberattack, two possibilities that have been mentioned in news reports. But he noted that the investigation was in its earliest stages and said, “We are not taking any consideration off the table.”
The destroyer is named after John S. McCain Sr. and John S. McCain Jr., Navy admirals who were the grandfather and father of Senator John McCain of Arizona.The destroyer is named after John S. McCain Sr. and John S. McCain Jr., Navy admirals who were the grandfather and father of Senator John McCain of Arizona.
In Washington, Senator McCain, who is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement endorsing the operational pause.In Washington, Senator McCain, who is the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement endorsing the operational pause.
“I agree with Admiral Richardson that more forceful action is urgently needed to identify and correct the causes of the recent ship collisions,” he said. “Our sailors who risk their lives every day, in combat and in training, deserve no less.”“I agree with Admiral Richardson that more forceful action is urgently needed to identify and correct the causes of the recent ship collisions,” he said. “Our sailors who risk their lives every day, in combat and in training, deserve no less.”
The collision between the John S. McCain and the Alnic MC, a Liberian-registered tanker about three times its size, occurred east of Singapore.The collision between the John S. McCain and the Alnic MC, a Liberian-registered tanker about three times its size, occurred east of Singapore.
Andrew Tan, the chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, said vessels from the countries involved were working closely to find the missing sailors. About 250 people from various Singapore agencies were involved in the search. Andrew Tan, the chief executive of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, said that about 250 people from various Singapore agencies were involved in the search.
“This incident took place in Singapore waters and M.P.A. continues to lead the search and rescue efforts,” Mr. Tan told reporters on Tuesday. “So everyone is working closely together to make sure that we spare no effort in terms of searching for the unaccounted for.”“This incident took place in Singapore waters and M.P.A. continues to lead the search and rescue efforts,” Mr. Tan told reporters on Tuesday. “So everyone is working closely together to make sure that we spare no effort in terms of searching for the unaccounted for.”
In Malaysia, Zulkifli Abu Bakar, the director general of the Maritime Enforcement Agency, said the collision had occurred in the country’s waters, at the highly congested entrance to the Singapore and Malacca Straits. He said 80,000 ships a year pass through the area. But in Malaysia, Zulkifli Abu Bakar, the director general of the Maritime Enforcement Agency, said the collision had occurred in his country’s waters, at the highly congested entrance to the Singapore and Malacca Straits. He said 80,000 ships a year pass through the area.
“It is in our waters, so we are leading the S.A.R. operations,” he said Monday, using an abbreviation for search and rescue. But he said any territorial dispute was secondary to the search effort. “It is in our waters, so we are leading the S.A.R. operations,” he said Monday, using an abbreviation for search and rescue.
“We do not want to have another collision,” he said. “For the time being, I don’t think we should argue about whose waters, because I think the most important thing is to focus on the search and rescue effort.” He said any territorial dispute was secondary to the search effort. “We do not want to have another collision,” he said. “For the time being, I don’t think we should argue about whose waters, because I think the most important thing is to focus on the search and rescue effort.”