2 more bodies from fatal dredger collision with tanker in S’pore waters found

SINGAPORE — The bodies of two more crew members who went missing after a collision in Singapore waters six weeks ago have been found, leaving one remaining missing, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in an update on Monday (Oct 23).

They were among 12 crew members of the JBB De Rong 19, a Dominican-registered dredger, that collided with Indonesian tanker Kartika Segara on Sept 13, about 3.15km south-west of Sisters’ Island. Five of JBB De Rong 19’s crew went missing after the collision capsized their vessel. Two of the bodies were found hours later. All 26 members of the tanker were unharmed.

The MPA said two more bodies were found three and four days after the accident.

The first was found south of Raffles Lighthouse in Singapore waters on Sept 16. His family members have claimed the body.

The second body was found 1.9 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Sengkuang in Indonesian waters, off Batam, the following day. Family members are in the process of claiming the body. TODAY understands the body was identified last Friday (Oct 20).

The MPA said it will continue to issue safety broadcasts to ships in the area to keep a lookout for the last missing crew member from JBB De Rong 19.

The collision happened after one on Aug 21, when United States warship USS John S McCain collided with a merchant vessel in Singapore territorial waters near Pedra Branca, killing 10 US Navy servicemen.

The warship was on its way to Singapore for a routine visit when it collided with the Alnic MC, a chemical and oil tanker about three times the size of the guided-missile destroyer.