US Navy records two collisions involving its destroyers within two months

SINGAPORE - Only a few days after the conclusion that inadequate leadership contributed to a collision involving a US destroyer off the coast of Japan in mid-June, another US destroyer from the US Navy's 7th Fleet collided with a merchant ship laden with fuel oil on Monday morning.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with the oil tanker Alnic MC in waters east of the Straits of Malacca, which is of vital strategic importance.

Ten sailors were unaccounted for and five others were injured in the incident. There was also significant damage to the destroyer's hull which resulted in flooding to nearby compartments, including crew berthing, machinery, and communications rooms, according to the US navy.

The ship managed to find her way back to Singapore's Changi Naval Base Monday noon. The McCain had been on its way to a routine port visit in Singapore.

The McCain is the fourth US Navy ship to be involved in an accident this year.

In January, the USS Antietam ran aground, dumping 1,100 gallons of hydraulic fluid into Tokyo Bay. On May 9, guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain was struck by a South Korean fishing vessel off the Korean Peninsula.

In mid June, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with the Philippine container vessel ACX Crystal, claiming the lives of seven Fitzgerald sailors, injuring three more and damaging both ships.

In a related development, US 7th Fleet issued a statement on Aug 17, announcing the commanding officer, executive officer and command master chief of the Fitzgerald were relieved of their duties.

They were believed to demonstrate "flawed watch stander teamwork and inadequate leadership" which contributed to the collision. Earlier, the commanders of the Antietam were also dismissed.

The McCain and the Fitzgerald, which is still under repairing, are both BMD (ballistic missile defence) capable ships based in the Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture, about 50 km southwest of Tokyo.

According to an news release posted on the official US Defense Ministry's website in September 2016, the 7th Fleet, boasting some 50 to 70 ships and 140 aircraft and recruiting some 20,000 sailors.

In the latest accident, both Singaporean and Malaysian forces rushed to the rescue.

Owned by Greek billionaire and shipping magnate Harry Vafias and his Brave Maritime Corporation, the Liberian-flagged Alnic MC was carrying nearly 12,000 tons of fuel oil, but no oil spill was detected.