Mattis: Navy to Conduct Broad Probe After Latest US Warship Collision

August 21, 2017 12:49 PM

- William Gallo (http://www.voanews.com/author/19900.html)

The U.S. Navy has ordered a broad investigation into naval operations after a guided-missile destroyer collided with a merchant ship east of Singapore Monday, the second such collision in as many months.

Ten American sailors are reported missing and five injured, with the USS John S. McCain sustaining "significant damage" as a result of the incident near the Strait of Malacca, according to a statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters while traveling in Jordan that he "fully supports" Navy Admiral John Richardson's probe that "will look into all related accidents at sea."

"He has put together a broader inquiry to look into these incidents and to determine any of the causal factors to determine what's going on, both immediate contributors to this, but also any, any related factors," Mattis said. "And once we have those facts, we'll share them with you."

Officials said Monday's collision punctured a hole in the ship's hull, below the waterline, causing several areas to flood, including a sleeping compartment for sailors as well as some of the ship's communication rooms.

The Singapore military evacuated four of the injured sailors by helicopter to a hospital in Singapore, where they are being treated for non-life threatening injuries. The fifth sailor did not require any medical attention.

Search & rescue

The U.S. Navy says it is continuing search and rescue operations with the help of local authorities, including the Malaysian and Singaporean navies.

The collision is the second involving a ship from the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet in the Pacific in two months. Seven sailors died in June when the USS Fitzgerald and a container ship hit each other in waters off Japan.

In the case of the USS Fitzgerald, Navy relieved the captain of his command and other sailors are to be punished after an inquiry found poor seamanship and flaws in keeping watch contributed to the collision.

The USS McCain had been scheduled for a routine port visit in Singapore when it collided with the Liberian-flagged tanker ship Alnic MC at about 6:20 a.m. local time.

Despite the damage, the McCain was able to pull into Singapore's Changi Naval Base under its own power.

Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority said the Alnic also sustained damage, but that there were no injures among its crew.

President tweets support

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support on Twitter, writing that his "thoughts and prayers" are with the sailors aboard the McCain.

The USS McCain is named for the father and grandfather of U.S. Senator John McCain, who both served as U.S. Navy admirals.