Tanjungpinang (Antara) - Indonesian Navy Base IV/ Tanjungpinang (Lantamal IV) has deployed KRI Cucut-886 and KRI Parang-647 and a helicopter to find victims of collision between USS John S Mcain 56 and Liberian-flagged MV Alnic MC.
The chief of the navy base, Commodore Ribut Eko Suyatno said here on Monday USS John S Mccain collided with MV Lanic east of Malacca Strait, Tanjung Pergam, in the Bintan district several hours ago.
Based on information 10 crew members went missing while USS John S Mccain suffered a damage on the left hull of its stern, he said.
"Immediately after receiving the information I coordinated with Commodore Bambang Irawanto from the Western Fleet Security Task Force (Guskamlabar) and Berakit naval post, Lagoi command post, and assigned members of the Lantamal IV patrol unit to search the victims," he said.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Royal Malaysian Navy have also deployed ships for rescue operations.
Singapore has assigned Police Coast Guard and Royal Singapore Navy involving RSS Gallant and RSS Resilience and Basking Shark SAR.
"One Sea Hawk helicopter from USS John S Mccain has been flown to find the location of the incident," Eko said.
He said other efforts taken by Lantamal IV were moving fast and coordinating with Guskamlabar and ILO Singapore to learn and inform developments in the field.
To anticipate possibility of oil spill, Lantamal IV has coordinated with the environment agency to conduct anticipatory measures but so far no spill has been found in the location, he said.
ANTARA
