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| Sunday, 5 January 2003 |
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Singapore Navy launches rescue operation for trapped crew The Singapore Navy has launched operations to rescue four women trapped in an anti-submarine ship that collided with a merchant vessel in the Singapore Straits, the defence ministry said Saturday. Eight other crew members of the ship RSS Courageous were injured in the collision with the Dutch-registered container vessel ANL Indonesia before midnight Friday. The collision happened in the eastern Singapore Straits near the islet of Pedra Branca, where Singapore maintains a lighthouse. The islet is also being claimed by Malaysia. Four crew members -- all women specialising in handling weapons and communications systems -- were trapped in their sleeping quarters located at the back of the ship which sustained the most damage. "There are still four crew members of the Singapore Navy vessel unaccounted for. They are thought to be trapped in the half part of the ship," said Second Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean. The ship was stable and was not in danger of sinking. Recovery operations were underway while the ship was being towed back to Singapore, he said. Eight crew "sustained minor injuries" and were sent to hospital for treatment. Five have since been discharged and three were still under observation. Broadcaster Channel NewsAsia said six navy ships, a helicopter, three police coast guard vessels, four tugboats and a ferry were helping in the rescue operations. It was not known if the merchant ship suffered any damage. |
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