Rescue underway as US warship crashes with cargo ship

  • Updated
  • 21/08/2017
USS John S. McCain Getty helicopter
The USS John S. McCain. Photo credit: Getty

Ten sailors are missing and five injured after an 183m-long oil tanker and a US warship collided in waters east of Singapore.

The incident left the American vessel with significant damage on its port side, according to reports.

US missile destroyer the USS John S McCain collided with vessel Alnic MC at 10:24am NZT (6:24am local time) during a routine visit to Singapore.

The collision occurred while the vessels were sailing through the Strait of Malacca.

The ship is one of dozens that are part of American military's Seventh Fleet, which tweeted the news of the incident.

Local media reports that damage has been done to the ship's port side, with search and rescue teams on their way to the scene of the incident.

It's the second serious boat accident to strike US Navy ships in Asian waters in just over two months.

In June, seven crew members of a US destroyer died when their vessel collided with a merchant ship off the coast of Japan.

Newshub.