By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet
ANKARA
The U.S. Navy is launching a comprehensive review of the operations of its Pacific-based 7th Fleet after 10 sailors went missing and five others were injured when a U.S. destroyer collided with a merchant vessel near Singapore on Monday.
It was the second collision in three months in the Asia-Pacific region. The USS Fitzgerald hit a cargo ship off Japan in June.
"This trend demands forceful action," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said in a statement.
The Navy will institute an "operational pause" in its activities worldwide in addition to the broad investigation, Richardson said.
The guided-missile destroyer, the USS John S. McCain, was involved in a collision with the merchant vessel, Alnic MC, east of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Navy said.
"There are currently 10 sailors missing and five injured. Four of the injured were medically evacuated by a Republic of Singapore Navy Puma helicopter to a hospital in Singapore for non-life threatening injuries.
“The fifth injured sailor does not require further medical attention," the statement added.
It said the collision was reported at 6.24 a.m. Japan Standard Time (2124GMT), while the ship was transiting to a routine port visit in Singapore.
"The ship is currently sailing under its own power and heading to Changi Naval Base [Singapore]. At this point, no fuel or oil is visible on the water’s surface near the ship.
"Search-and-rescue efforts are underway in coordination with local authorities.”
The statement said the merchant vessel is a Liberian-flagged 600-foot oil and chemical tanker with a gross tonnage of 30,000.
It also said initial reports indicated the destroyer sustained damage to her port side.
"Damage control efforts continue while the extent of damage is being determined. The incident will be investigated," it added.
*Michael Hernandez contributed to this story from Washington
