Two bodies recovered, three missing in Singapore Strait collision

By Jite Eriabie 

Two bodies have been recovered out of five missing following a collision between a dredger and a tanker early on Wednesday morning in the Singapore Strait. Search and rescue operations for the three remaining missing seafarers are ongoing. 

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said that divers had recovered two bodies from the five seafarers missing from the dredger JBB De Rong 19 which capsized in the collision.

The dredger was transiting in the westbound lane of the traffic separation scheme (TSS) when it was involved in a collision with the Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara which was joining the eastbound lane of the TSS.

Of the seven crew rescued from the dredger and taken to hospital, five have since been discharged.

The MPA also said that vessel traffic control had given warnings to both vessels prior to the collision. 

“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,” MPA stated.

There has been no disruption to traffic in one of the world’s busiest waterways.

Andrew Tan, chief executive of the 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.”