From the straitstimes website:
Tension mounted as the day wore on with rescuers searching for the
four women specialists trapped in the back of the RSS
Courageous.
K. C. VIJAYAN reports on how cautious optimism gave way to a
warning to be prepared for the worst.
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FRIDAY
11.35PM
BOW of container vessel ANL Indonesia sails out of Singapore
Straits and rams into the rear of RSS Courageous on its right
side.
RSS Courageous has been on a routine patrol since morning while the
ANL Indonesia is heading towards Busan, South Korea, after leaving
Port Klang on Friday.
The collision occurs about 1.5 km north-west of Pedra Branca. The
impact of a larger ship of more than 50,000 gross tonne weight and
a vessel less than half its size, weighing 460 tonnes is
tremendous.
The anti-submarine craft's rear is sheared off. The aft caves
inwards. Even the mast tower is damaged.
A Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) spokesman says weather
conditions allow for clear visibility at the time. Traffic flow in
the area was normal, she adds.
Four women naval specialists, aged between 22 and 25, asleep in a
rear compartment, are trapped. The ship begins to list and water
floods the two compartments adjoining the trapped women's
room.
Eight other men from the 44-strong crew on board are injured
slightly.
FRIDAY
11.40PM
ALERTED, the Defence Ministry sends first rescue helicopter from
Sembawang Air Base.
Shortly afterwards, six Republic of Singapore Navy ships, three
Police Coast Guard craft, four tug boats and a ferry move in to
help.
Efforts to locate the trapped four involve a difficult and
complicated operation, requiring the ship to be stabilised first to
prevent it from sinking.
ANL Indonesia notifies MPA. It does not seek assistance as it only
suffers a slight dent on its front.
MPA sends two fire-fighting craft to area.
SATURDAY
5.30AM
EIGHT injured crewman admitted to Changi General Hospital.
They are conveyed by Police Coast Guard craft to Changi Ferry Point
and then ferried to the hospital.
Five are discharged by noon while the remaining three - First
Sergeants Koh Tze Ann, 26, Ang Wee Soon, 27, and Second Sergeant
Tan Meng Wah, 24 - are warded for observation.
SATURDAY
7.15AM
ANL Indonesia with 23-man crew of 12 Dutchmen and 11 Indonesians on
board drops anchor at Eastern Anchorage waters, some 4 km from
Sentosa.
The agent for the ship's owner, P&0 Nedlloyd, says damage is
minor and the ship is ready to continue its voyage but is remaining
to assist in investigations.
SATURDAY
12.15PM
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tony Tan accompanied by
Second Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and senior Mindef officers
hold a press conference.
He says RSS Courageous is being towed back to Changi Naval Base
while search and rescue efforts are continuing at the collision
scene with additional Air Force and Navy craft.
'We are doing everything possible on the ship and hope to complete
the rescue operation as soon as possible. We share the distress of
the families of the four servicewomen who are still unaccounted for
and are doing our utmost.'
He says he does not want to speculate on the condition or location
of the women.
SATURDAY
2.30PM
EVEN as search efforts continue at the collision site, the RSS
Courageous arrives in tow at Changi Naval Base.
It is lifted up in a dry area and water drains from the ship to
allow rescuers to enter the severely damaged compartments.
SATURDAY
5.15PM
DR TAN, after inspecting the wrecked vessel, tells reporters that
divers have found the body of one servicewoman inside. She is found
lodged between the bunks.
Search operations at the crash site will continue, he says, while
divers continue to pry the crunched rear of the vessel to locate
the other three women.
'We need to take further time to ascertain the location of the
other three servicewomen,' he adds.
He does not think the load of the ship, with 44 crew members on
board, instead of its capacity of 32 people, had a bearing on the
collision.
Acknowledging that hopes are fading, he says: 'We must be prepared
for the worst. Our hearts go out to the families of the four
servicewomen.
'We have had severe accidents in the past.
'In terms of possible loss of life, this is the largest loss of
life in a single accident that the RSN has encountered.'
AT PRESS TIME
A MINDEF spokesman says operations are continuing both on the ship
and the crash site to look for the missing three women.
