The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has just released the final update on the incident involving Indonesian-registered tanker KARTIKA SEGARA and Dominican-registered dredger JBB DE RONG 19.
Following the incident in Singapore territorial waters earlier in September, a body has been found and positively identified as the last missing crew member of dredger JBB DE RONG 19, Reported MPA.
According to the authorities, the body was found inside the accommodation structure of the dredger by divers during salvage operations on 5 November 2017.
“ As all 12 crew members on board JBB DE RONG 19 are now accounted for, with seven rescued and five bodies recovered, search and recovery operations have concluded ,” said MPA in the release.
The accident occurred on 13 September, about 1.7 nautical miles south-west of Sisters Island. The dredger was transiting the westbound lane while the tanker was departing Singapore joining the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Singapore Strait when the incident happened.
A total of 12 crew – 11 Chinese nationals and one Malaysian – were on board the dredger at the time of incident.
Prior to the collision, Singapore’s Vessel Traffic Information System (VTIS) had provided timely navigational information and warnings to both vessels to take preventive actions to avoid a collision. While the vessels acknowledged the information provided by the Singapore VTIS, the collision was not averted.