Details remain sketchy, but the Arliegh Burke class destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) collided with the oil tanker Alnic MC east of the Strait of Malacca, near Singapore. The collision occurred at 6:24AM local time. The John S. McCain had been on patrol in the volatile South China Sea where it actively challenged China's territorial claims and was heading to Singapore for a planned port visit when the incident occurred.
The Navy has stated that the destroyer sustained damage on her port aft side, and that search and rescue efforts are underway. There is no official statement as to the number of sailors missing, injured, or dead, nor the condition on the Alnic MC. The tanker vessel is Liberian flagged, 600 feet long, and 104 feet wide. Her gross tonnage is reported as 50,000 tons. The ship was launched in 2007.
The collision occurred just over two months after another Arleigh Burke class destroyer, the USS Fitzgerald, collided with the merchant vessel ACX Crystal under bizarre circumstances off the coast of Japan, and just two days after the Navy released a harrowing report detailing what went on in the moments after the impact.
Cindy & I are keeping America's sailors aboard the USS John S McCain in our prayers tonight - appreciate the work of search & rescue crews https://t.co/jzk9giXbfg
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) August 21, 2017
We will keep this post updated over the next 24 hours as more information comes available and as we research the Alnic MC and its ownership.
Update 6:05pm PST 8/20/2017: The Alnic MC is listed by shipping industry site Q88.com lists the operator of the vessel as Stealth Maritime Corporation out of Greece.
This is the Alnic MC tanker that the USS John S. McCain collided with. #Navy pic.twitter.com/kMgMCpuLM1
— Brad M Sterling (@BradMSterling) August 21, 2017
Highly conflicting reports all over social media as to the ship's damage, with some saying it's quite severe with flooding in multiple areas and others saying its somewhat superficial. We will wait till we get stronger sourcing to report on the condition of the ship and its crew. Standby.
Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com