10 Sailors Missing After Destroyer USS John S McCain Collides With Merchant Ship

UPDATE: 3.55 a.m. EDT — The U.S. Navy said the USS John S. McCain arrived at Singapore’s naval base with “significant damage” to its hull after a collision early Monday with an oil tanker. Teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the U.S. are still searching for the ten missing sailors.

Original Story:

A search and rescue mission was under way after ten US Navy sailors went missing following a collision between a destroyer and a merchant ship east of the Singapore early Monday local time, reports said.

The collision between USS John S. McCain with the merchant ship Alnic MC occurred east of the Straits of Malacca 6:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time (5:24 p.m. EDT), as the guided-missile destroyer was on its way for a routine port visit in Singapore, the Navy said, ABC News reported.

Five sailors were injured in the collision, in which, the John S. McCain sustained damage to her port side aft, the Navy said. The status of the merchant ship still unknown.

The collision marks the fourth incident involving a US Navy warship in the Pacific this year.

Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, tweeted: "Our first priority is determining the safety of the ship and crew. As more information is learned, we will share it."

The ship is currently sailing under its own power and heading to port in Singapore, according to a Navy statement.

A Navy official said McCain was fighting flooding in several places and that it had limited propulsion and electrical power, CNN reported.

Tug boats out of Singapore, as well as the Singapore Navy ship RSS Gallant, Singapore navy helicopters and a Police Coast Guard vessel are aiding in the search and rescue operations.

MV-22 Ospreys and SH-60 Seahawks from the USS America are also responding, the Navy said.

The ship is named for the Arizona’s senator’s grandfather, John Sidney McCain Sr., and his father, John Sidney McCain Jr, both of whom were admirals.

It has a crew of 23 officers, 24 chief petty officers and 291 sailors, and is based at the 7th Fleet's homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, according the Navy's website.

Sen. John McCain, who is battling cancer, tweeted that he and his wife Cindy McCain "are keeping America's sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight — appreciate the work of search & rescue crews."

On June 17, seven sailors were killed when the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off the coast of Japan.

On May 9, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain was struck by a small fishing boat off the Korean Peninsula.

In late January, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam ran aground while trying to anchor in Tokyo Bay.

(This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available)