Malaysia joins expanded rescue efforts

SINGAPORE – The area covered by the Singapore-led search and rescue efforts to locate the unaccounted crew of the USS John S McCain was expanded yesterday, with the Republic also accepting Malaysia’s offer to send four aircraft to join the search.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement that the search area had been expanded from the initial 128 sqkm to cover 2,620 sqkm. Singapore and the United States are covering the centre of the identified search area, while Malaysian and Indonesian assets are covering the north and south.

Indonesia has increased its deployment to two aircraft and three vessels, while Australia has offered fixed- wing assets to join the search. 

The US Navy also deployed assets from USS America, an amphibious assault ship.

So far, the Singapore Armed Forces has deployed three patrol vessels, three fast craft, one frigate, two Super Pumas, one Chinook, one C-130 and one Fokker 50 while the Singapore Police Coast Guard deployed four patrol craft. 

The MPA, which deployed two craft, three tugboats and a team of divers, has also been issuing hourly navigational broadcasts to advise passing vessels of the incident. 

The damaged USS John S McCain remains berthed at Changi Naval Base, while the Liberian-flagged oil and chemical tanker Alnic MC is now at Singapore’s eastern anchorage for inspections, the MPA said.