Singapore Launches Search & Rescue Operation For Missing Crew From Sunken Tugboat

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has launched a search and rescue operation after a tugboat, OSHIO, was reported missing and later confirmed to have sunk in the Eastern Anchorage area on September 04, 2024.

The incident occurred within Singapore’s port limits at around 2:15 p.m. local time, with the tug last reported moving at 4 knots in the anchorage.

Authorities have confirmed that two crew members were onboard the 39-foot tugboat, which was built in 1998 and registered in Singapore.

The Police Coast Guard (PCG) rescued a 39-year-old crew member believed to be one of the two Indonesian nationals operating on the tug and transported him to a nearby hospital.

Unfortunately, he was declared dead soon after he arrived at the hospital.

The search for the missing crew member continues, with assistance from the Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF)

Salvage divers have been sent to locate the sunken tugboat for possible recovery operations.

The MPA has issued navigational broadcasts warning vessels to avoid the region while the search continues.

Fortunately, no oil spills have been reported in the area.

The cause of the tugboat’s sinking and its operations remains unknown.

The Eastern Anchorage is a busy area frequently used for various purposes, including as a waiting area for ships before docking, bunkering, storing and crew changes.

The MPA is working closely with the Police Coast Guard and Singapore Civil Defense Force to ensure navigational safety and minimize disruptions in the area while the search and rescue operation is underway.

Reference: MPA

Singapore Launches Search & Rescue Operation For Missing Crew From Sunken Tugboat appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News