Singapore: Dredger Sank After Colliding with Tanker, 5 Missing

 

At the point of collision this morning, 12 crew members were onboard JBB DE RONG 19. Seven were sent to the Singapore General Hospital, out of whom five have since been discharged. Search and rescue (SAR) efforts for the three remaining crew members are ongoing. 

 

The incident took place in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait. Prior to the collision, Singapore’s Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) had provided timely navigational information and warnings to both vessels to take preventive actions to avoid a collision. While the vessels acknowledged the information provided by the Singapore VTIS, the collision was not averted.

 

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) continues to lead the SAR operations with support from relevant Singapore agencies. Assets from the Singapore agencies include two Super Puma, two Chinook and one Fokker 50 from Republic of Singapore Air Force, 15 vessels from MPA, the Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force; and seven vessels from PSA Marine and POSH SEMCO. About 200 personnel are involved in the SAR operations. 

 

MPA has notified the Indonesian Rescue Coordination Centre about the incident and they have deployed five vessels to assist with SAR in Indonesian territorial waters.

 

Andrew Tan, Chief Executive of MPA said, “MPA expresses our deepest condolences to the families of the two deceased and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We will continue with our search and rescue efforts to find the remaining three missing crew members.”

 

There have been no reports of oil spill or disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.  MPA is investigating the incident.