The US Navy’s Chief of Naval Operations, John Richardson, has ordered a fleet-wide review of seamanship and training in the Pacific after the second major accident in two months happened Monday morning when the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker off Singapore.
A temporary halt to US navy operations around the world will be part of a full safety review.
In a video statement released by the US Navy (below), Richardson gave an update on the situation.
He said: “Our primary concern at this point is the safety of the crew and ship – that is the focus of our efforts at the scene.
“We will continue to provide updates as events unfold and we learn more. I am also directing a comprehensive review into all potential factors contributing to these incidents.”
Search and rescue efforts are still underway as ten US Navy sailors are still missing after the collision with the Alnic MC oil tanker in the Malacca Strait.
The accident follows the USS Fitzgerald almost sinking off the coast of Japan after it hit a Philippine container ship on June 17, 2017.
