Crew’s damage-control efforts saved ship and lives: Admiral

SINGAPORE — United States Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift yesterday paid tribute to the crew on board the USS John S McCain for their heroic efforts, in the aftermath of the warship’s collision with an oil and chemical tanker on Monday.

“It is clear that their damage control saved their ship and saved lives,” said Adm Swift, who was speaking at a press conference at Changi Naval Base where he provided an update on the search and rescue efforts for 10 missing sailors. He noted that the ship suffered “quite significant” damage.

“The water-tight integrity was compromised, many spaces were flooded ... the damage-control efforts of the crew not only involved the direct assistance to sailors who were injured, setting water tight boundaries, setting up shoring to support the interior structure of the ship, but the ship … was righted based on the efforts of the sailors.” Within an hour or two after the collision, which happened at 5.24am on Monday, the ship was “up and running as an operational ship”, Adm Swift said. “It was quite extraordinary,” he added.

The accident was the second collision between a US Navy warship and a merchant vessel in about two months.

On June 17, the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a freighter that killed seven people aboard the US ship. Investigations into the June incident indicated that serious mistakes were made by the crew. The ship’s commanding officer, executive officer and coxswain were relieved of their duties.

Asked whether fatigue and overwork were possible factors for the collision involving the USS John S McCain, Adm Swift said: “I don’t think that’s the case at all, I was on (the ship) this morning, looking at the eyes of these sailors and even after their heroic efforts yesterday, I didn’t see exhaustion.”

Ms Megan Partlow, whose fiance was on board the ship and is currently missing, told the Associated Press that they last communicated on Sunday, and she was losing hope of seeing him again.

“My last text to him was: ‘Be safe’, which is the same way we end every conversation. I’m just ready for answers,” she said.