The Kartika Segara tanker anchored at the Eastern Anchorage. (Photo: Leong Wai Kit)
SINGAPORE: Search and rescue operations are under way for five missing crew members after a tanker and a boat collided on Wednesday (Sep 13) at about 12.40am, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.
The collision between Indonesian-registered tanker Kartika Segara and Dominican-registered dredger JBB De Rong 19 took place about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters' Islands, the statement said.
The dredger capsized and is currently partially submerged. Of the 12 crew members – 12 Chinese nationals and a Malaysian –on board the dredger, seven were injured while five were unaccounted for. No one from the tanker was hurt.
The seven injured men were rescued by the Singapore Police Coast Guard and taken by ambulance to Singapore General Hospital at 2.45am. Five have since been discharged, a hospital spokesperson confirmed.
MPA is leading the search and rescue operations and relevant Singapore agencies are assisting, it said.
Two MPA tug boats moved the partially submerged dredger to an area near Pulau Senang for follow-up underwater search operations, while three MPA patrol craft are assisting in the search and rescue.
The Republic of Singapore Navy, Singapore Civil Defence Force and the coast guard have deployed a total of seven vessels for the operation.
A Super Puma helicopter from the Republic of Singapore Air Force began searching from the air at 7am, according to MPA.
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