39yo man dies after tugboat sinks in Singapore waters

SINGAPORE: A 39-year-old man has died after the tugboat he was on sank in Singapore waters on Wednesday (4 September). The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported the incident in a statement issued the same day, confirming that the tugboat, Oshio, sank in the Eastern Anchorage at around 2.15 pm.

As reported by Singapore media CNA, the man, one of two crew members on board the tugboat, was rescued by the Police Coast Guard (PCG) and taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have not released details about the second crew member, who remains missing. A search and rescue operation involving the MPA, PCG, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) is currently underway. Divers have been deployed to locate the sunken tugboat for salvage operations. MPA has also issued navigational broadcasts to warn vessels to avoid the area. No oil pollution has been detected from the incident. According to the MPA website, the Eastern Anchorage, situated near Marina Barrage, serves general purposes such as receiving stores, water, bunkers, and as a waiting area for berth facilities by vessels, excluding non-gas free petroleum vessels, liquefied natural gas vessels, liquefied petroleum gas vessels, and chemical vessels. Authorities are continuing their search efforts and are monitoring the situation closely.