5 men missing after tanker-dredger collision near Sisters Island

Today Online 13 Sep 17;

SINGAPORE – Five men are missing after their dredger capsized after an early Wednesday (Sept 13) morning collision with a tanker, the second such maritime accident in Singapore’s waters within a month.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement that the incident happened at 12.40am on Wednesday, about 3.15km south-west of Sisters Island.

The five men are part of a 12-man crew – comprising 11 Chinese nationals and one Malaysian – on a Dominican-registered dredger, JBB De Rong. Their vessel collided with an Indonesian tanker, Kartika Segara.

According to the MPA, the dredger capsized as a result of the accident and is currently partially submerged. It was transiting the westbound lane while the tanker was departing Singapore joining the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait when the incident occurred.

The MPA said the Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System had provided navigational information to both vessels prior to the collision.

Seven Chinese nationals were rescued by the Singapore Police Coast Guard and taken to the Singapore General Hospital. A hospital spokesperson said that five of the seven men have been discharged from the hospital.

One crew member was admitted and is in stable condition, while the other is currently under observation.

The Indonesian tanker sustained damage to its starboard bow, but its 26 crew members were unharmed. The tanker is currently anchored at the Eastern Anchorage.

Inter-agency search and rescue efforts are underway, involving a total of 10 vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy, the MPA, the Coast Guard and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

In addition, a Republic of Singapore Air Force Super Puma helicopter began an aerial search at 7am.

Two MPA tug boats have moved the partially submerged dredger to an area near Pulau Senang for follow up underwater search operations.

The MPA said it has issued a navigational broadcasts for ships to look out for the missing crew and to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.

There is no reported disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.

Wednesday morning's collision follows the one on August 21, when the US warship USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant vessel in Singapore territorial waters near Pedra Branca.

The USS John S McCain was on its way to Singapore for a routine visit when it collided with the Alnic MC, a chemical and oil tanker about three times the size of the guided-missile destroyer. Ten US Navy servicemen were killed in the incident.


5 missing after tanker and boat collide in Singapore waters; search and rescue ongoing
Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 17;

SINGAPORE: Search-and-rescue operations are under way for five missing crew members after a tanker and a boat collided on Wednesday (Sep 13) at about 12.40am, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

The collision between Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara and Dominican-registered dredger JBB De Rong 19 took place about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Islands, the statement said.

The dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged. Of the 12 crew members – 11 Chinese nationals and a Malaysian – on board the dredger, seven were injured while five were unaccounted for. No one from the tanker was hurt.

The seven injured men were rescued by the Singapore Police Coast Guard and taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital at 2.45am. Five have since been discharged, a hospital spokesperson confirmed, adding that one remained admitted while the other was under observation.

MPA is leading the search and rescue operations and relevant Singapore agencies are assisting, it said.

Two MPA tug boats moved the partially submerged dredger to an area near Pulau Senang for follow-up underwater search operations, while three MPA patrol craft are assisting in the search and rescue.

The Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the coast guard have deployed a total of seven vessels for the operation.

A Super Puma helicopter from the Republic of Singapore Air Force began searching from the air at 7am, according to MPA.

"The dredger was transiting the westbound lane while the tanker was departing Singapore joining the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait when the incident occurred," MPA said. "The Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System had provided navigational information to both vessels prior the collision.

"The tanker reported damage to her starboard bow but is stable and anchored at the Eastern Anchorage. Its 26 Indonesian crew did not sustain any injuries," the agency added.

There is no disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait, the statement said.

In a Facebook post on Monday morning, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen reiterated that MPA was leading the search-and-rescue operations for the five crew members.

"I hope the missing seaman can be located," added Dr Ng.

This collision was not the only incident that occurred in recent times. Ten US sailors died after a collision between US Navy warship USS John S McCain and oil tanker Alnic MC in Singapore waters last month.
Source: CNA/mn


Two ships collide in Singapore waters; 7 injured, 5 missing
Linette Lai, Seow Bei Yi, Rachel Au-Yong Straits Times 13 Sep 17;

SINGAPORE - More than 12 hours after two ships collided in Singapore waters, five crew members remain missing.

The accident, involving a Dominican-registered dredger and Indonesian-registered tanker, happened in the early hours of Wednesday morning (Sept 13), about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Island.

The dredger, which had 12 crew members on board, capsized. Its crew consisted of 11 Chinese nationals and one Malaysian.

Seven of the Chinese nationals were rescued and transferred to the Singapore General Hospital for treatment. As of Wednesday afternoon, at least two of the seven remained in hospital.

When The Straits Times arrived at the capsized ship on Wednesday afternoon, boats from the authorities were patrolling the area. A boat carrying divers had pulled up next to the dredger.

The 26 Indonesian crew on the tanker were unscathed. However, the ship's right front section was visibly damaged.

The Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System provided navigational information to both vessels prior to the collision.

The Indonesian-registered tanker is the Kartika Segara.

The Dominican-registered dredger, the JBB De Rong, is manged by Malaysian company LK Global Shipping, according to www.dredgepoint.org. A representative for LK Global Shipping was at Singapore General Hospital but declined comment when approached.

Representatives from the Embassy of China in Singapore were at the Singapore General Hospital to visit the survivors. Consul-General Wang Jiarong expressed his concern for the missing crew members and hopes that the authorities will do their best in the search and rescue operations.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that it was alerted to the incident at around 12.40am on Wednesday.



It said that the dredger was transiting in the westbound lane, while the tanker was leaving Singapore to join the eastbound lane in the Singapore Strait.

The MPA is leading the search and rescue operations for the missing people. Two tug boats have moved the dredger to an area near Pulau Senang for underwater search operations.

The RSAF conducts search and rescue operations

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen on Wednesday morning said the Republic of Singapore Navy Patrol Vessel RSS Fearless, the Republic of Singapore Air Force Super Puma Rescue 10 and Chinook, Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force craft have been deployed to assist in search and rescue operations.

Patrol boats and a helicopter have also been deployed. Ships have been told to be on the lookout for the missing crew members, and to navigate with caution near the accident site.

There is no disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.

The latest incident comes just after a United States warship, the USS John S. McCain, collided with an oil tanker, Alnic MC, in Singapore waters off Pedra Branca on Aug 21. Ten US sailors were killed and five others were injured in that incident.


2 bodies found after tanker and boat collide in Singapore waters; 3 still missing
Channel NewsAsia 13 Sep 17;

SINGAPORE: Divers recovered the bodies of two of the five crew members that were missing after a tanker and a boat collided, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Wednesday (Sep 13) afternoon.

Search and rescue efforts for the three remaining crew members are ongoing, MPA added in its update at 4pm local time.

The collision took place at about 12.40am on Wednesday, between Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara and Dominican-registered dredger JBB De Rong 19 about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Islands.

The dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged. Of the 12 crew members – 11 Chinese nationals and a Malaysian – on board the dredger, seven were injured while five were unaccounted for. None of the tanker's 26 crew members was hurt.

The seven injured men were rescued by the Singapore Police Coast Guard and taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital at 2.45am. Five have since been discharged, a hospital spokesperson confirmed, adding that one remained admitted while the other was under observation.

VESSELS HAD BEEN WARNED: MPA

The dredger had been transiting the westbound lane while the tanker was departing Singapore joining the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait when the incident occurred, MPA said.

MPA said that 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," MPA said.

The tanker reported damage to her starboard bow but is stable and anchored at the Eastern Anchorage, the agency said.

There was no disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait, MPA said, adding that there have been no reports of oil spills or disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.

MPA is investigating the incident.

SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

About 200 personnel are involved in the search and rescue operations.

MPA is leading the search and rescue operations and the relevant Singapore agencies are assisting it, it said.

A Super Puma helicopter from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) began searching from the air at 7am.

Assets from the Singapore agencies now include two Super Puma, two Chinook and a Fokker 50 from the RSAF, as well as 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.

MPA said it has notified the Indonesian Rescue Coordination Centre about the incident and they have deployed five vessels to help with search and rescue efforts in Indonesian territorial waters.

Mr 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,” he added.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen noted that "another collision" has taken place in the Singapore Strait, and said he hoped that the missing seamen could be found.

Wednesday's collision came less than a month after the US Navy warship USS John S McCain and oil tanker Alnic MC collided in Singapore waters. Ten US sailors were killed in the accident, which is being investigated.
Source: CNA/mn


Vessels deployed to search for five missing sailors
Fadli Fadli The Jakarta Post 13 Sep 17;

Indonesian authorities have stepped up efforts to assist ongoing search-and-rescue operations for five foreign sailors reported missing after their dredger collided with an Indonesian tanker in waters off Singapore on Wednesday.

The five sailors, which comprise four Chinese and one Malaysian national, were among 12 sailors on board the Dominican-registered dredger JBB De Rong 19, which collided with Indonesia’s Kartika Segara tanker at 12:40 p.m. local time.

The Maritime Security Board’s (Bakamla) maritime operation director Commodore Rahmat Eko Raharjo said the agency’s KN Belut Laut national vessel had departed from Batam, Riau Islands, for the search operation. It would join with two patrol vessels dispatched by the Riau Islands Water Police and five patrol vessels of the Batam Customs and Excise Office to look for the missing crew members.

“We are going to conduct a search-and-rescue operation and anticipate a possible oil spill incident in the waters because the accident involved an oil tanker,” Rahmat told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The oil tanker was joining the eastbound lane to depart, while the dredger was transiting in the westbound lane when they collided in the Singapore Strait, the city state’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.

The 26 crew members of the Kartika Segara oil tanker did not sustain any injuries. The tanker was reportedly damaged on her starboard bow, but was stable and is currently anchored at the Eastern Anchorage. Meanwhile, the dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged. (afr/ebf)


Bodies of two vessel collision victims found
The Jakarta Post 14 Sep 17;

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, said on Wednesday that two of the five sailors reported missing during a collision between the Indonesian-flagged MV Kartika Segara tanker and the Dominican Republic-flagged JBB De Rong 19 dredger had been found dead.

Basarnas Tanjungpinang head Djunaidi said the bodies of the two sailors were found inside the JBB De Rong 19 at around 1:04 p.m. local time.

He said Basarnas Tanjungpinang personnel helped move the bodies of the two sailors to the Singaporean Coast Guard office.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Djunaidi said, Basarnas Tanjungpinang, the search-and-rescue mission coordinator, continued to carry out operations to find the three other sailors who remained missing.

“So far, nine victims have been found, seven of whom survived the incident,” he said as quoted by Antara.

It was earlier reported that the number of people on board the vessel was 12. They comprised 11 Chinese citizens and one Malaysian national. It was later learned that seven of them managed to escape the incident.

The oil tanker was joining the eastbound lane to depart, while the dredger was transiting in the westbound lane when they collided in the Singapore Strait, the city state’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said.

The 26 crew members of the Kartika Segara oil tanker did not sustain any injuries. The tanker was reportedly damaged on her starboard bow, but was stable and is currently anchored at the Eastern Anchorage. Meanwhile, the dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged. (ebf)


Update 2 - Collision of TANKER KARTIKA SEGARA and DREDGER JBB DE RONG 19
MPA Release 14 September 2017

1 As of 6pm (Singapore time), multi-agencies search and rescue (SAR) efforts to locate the remaining three missing crew of Dominican-registered dredger JBB DE RONG 19 are still ongoing. The dredger had collided with Indonesian-registered tanker KARTIKA SEGARA in Singapore territorial waters at about 12.40am (Singapore time) on 13 September 2017, despite collision warnings issued by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

2 Of the two crew members who were warded in hospital yesterday, one has since been discharged and one remains under observation at the Singapore General Hospital.

3 Today, the MPA continues to lead the SAR operations with support from relevant Singapore agencies. The total surface search area was expanded to 250 km2 from 130km2 on 13 September 2017. The aerial search area has also expanded to 2701km2 from 770km2.

4 The SAR, supported by assets from the Singapore agencies, include five aircraft from Republic of Singapore Air Force, 21 vessels from MPA, the Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defence Force; and eight vessels from PSA Marine and POSH SEMCO. To date, about 280 personnel have been involved in the SAR operations.

5 The Indonesian Rescue Coordination Centre is working with Singapore authorities to assist the SAR operations with 10 vessels in Indonesian territorial waters.

Update 1 - Collision of TANKER KARTIKA SEGARA and DREDGER JBB DE RONG 19
MPA release 13 Sep 17;

1 As of 4pm (Singapore time), divers have recovered two bodies out of the five missing crew of JBB DE RONG 19, following the collision between Indonesian-registered tanker KARTIKA SEGARA and Dominican-registered dredger JBB DE RONG 19 that occurred in Singapore territorial waters at about 12.40am (Singapore time) on 13 September 2017.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 Mr 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.”

7 There have been no reports of oil spill or disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.

8 MPA is investigating the incident.




Collision of TANKER KARTIKA SEGARA and DREDGER JBB DE RONG 19 in Singapore Waters
MPA Release 13 Sep 17;

On 13 September 2017, at about 12.40am (Singapore time), the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was notified of a collision between an Indonesian-registered tanker KARTIKA SEGARA and a Dominican-registered dredger JBB DE RONG 19 in Singapore territorial waters, about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters Island.

2 The dredger was transiting the westbound lane while the tanker was departing Singapore joining the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait when the incident occurred. The Singapore Vessel Traffic Information System had provided navigational information to both vessels prior the collision.

3 The dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged.

4 A total of 12 crew ─ 11 Chinese nationals and one Malaysian ─ were onboard the dredger at the time of incident. Seven of the Chinese nationals have been rescued by the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) and transferred to the Singapore General Hospital by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) ambulances for medical treatment. Five crew remain unaccounted for.

5 The tanker reported damage to her starboard bow but is stable and anchored at the Eastern Anchorage. Its 26 Indonesian crew did not sustain any injuries.

6 MPA is leading the Search and rescue (SAR) operations and relevant Singapore agencies are rendering all assistance. Two MPA tug boats have moved the partially submerged dredger safely to an area near Pulau Senang for follow up underwater search operations. In addition, MPA has deployed three patrol craft to assist in the SAR operation and the Republic of Singapore Navy, SCDF and PCG have also deployed a total of seven vessels on scene to support the SAR.

7 A Super Puma helicopter from the Republic of Singapore Air Force has commenced aerial search at 7am.

8 MPA has also issued navigational broadcasts for ships to look out for the missing crew and to navigate with caution when in the vicinity of the incident site.

9 There is no disruption to shipping traffic in the Singapore Strait.

10 MPA is investigating the incident.


Last missing crew from ship collision on Sep 13 found, identified: MPA
Channel NewsAsia 10 Nov 17;

SINGAPORE: The search and recovery operations for the missing crew members following the collision between a dredger and a tanker in Singapore territorial waters on Sep 13 have concluded, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

In a statement on Friday (Nov 10), the authority said the body of the last missing crew member of dredger JBB De Rong 19 was found and identified on Nov 5.


The body was found inside the accommodation structure of the dredger by divers during salvage operations, MPA said.

As all 12 crew members on board the vessel are now accounted for, with seven rescued and five bodies recovered, search and recovery operations have concluded, MPA added.

The Dominican-registered dredger collided with the Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Islands at about 12.40am on Sep 13.

The dredger capsized.

Source: CNA/ms