Search and rescue teams fanned out across more than 2,600 sq km of Southeast Asian waters today in a bid to find any survivors from Monday’s collision between the American destroyer USS John S. McCain and the Stealth Maritime tanker Alnic MC.
.The ships collided off Singapore on Monday morning with 10 American sailors reported missing.
Navy and Marine Corps divers on Tuesday located the remains of some of the 10 missing sailors in sealed compartments of the damaged destroyer.
American media is reporting that the US Navy will relieve Joseph Aucoin as commander of the US 7th Fleet following the collision which was the fourth accident involving a US warship this year.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Stealth Maritime told Splash that the Alnic MC will be repaired at an unspecified yard in Singapore. It suffered a gash to the starboard side of its bow above the waterline
The accident has been used by Chinese authorities to take a swipe at the US in an ongoing spat over who controls the South China Sea.
In an editorial in state-run China Daily earlier this week, the newspaper stated: “The US Navy, which likes to claim its presence can help safeguard ‘freedom of navigation’ in the South China Sea, is proving to be an increasing hindrance to ships sailing in Asian waters.”
