Damaged US Destroyer Arrives at Singapore Base

A US destroyer pulled into a base in Singapore after colliding with a merchant ship off the coast of Singapore and sustaining significant damage, the US Navy's 7th Fleet said in a press release on Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Following the incident, US President Donald Trump said his thoughts and prayers were with US Navy sailors aboard the destroyer.

"The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) has arrived at Changi Naval Base following a collision with the merchant vessel Alnic MC while underway east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore on Aug. 21," the press release states.

US Navy personnel looks at Philippine Navy vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz during the bilateral maritime exercise between the Philippine Navy and US Navy dubbed Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT 2014) aboard the USS John S. McCain in the South China Sea near waters claimed by Beijing on June 28, 2014

© AFP 2023 / NOEL CELIS/POOL

Ten sailors remain missing and five were injured when the USS John S. McCain collided with a Liberian-flagged vessel at 5:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time (Sunday 21:24 GMT), the fleet said earlier.

"Significant damage to the hull resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms. Damage control efforts by the crew halted further flooding," the 7th Fleet said.