| Agence
France Presse January 13, 2003 SINGAPORE THE search for a missing female naval officer was called off Monday, 10 days after the anti-submarine ship she was in collided with a merchant vessel off Singapore, the defense ministry said. "After seeking the advice of forensic experts, we have decided to bring the search and rescue operation to a close," defense chief Lim Chuan Poh told reporters, adding search and rescue operations will end late Monday. Three female officers were killed January 3 when the 55,000-tonne Dutch-registered ANL Indonesia collided with the RSS Courageous off eastern Singapore. All four women, specialists in handling naval weapons and communications systems, were in the sleeping quarters of the RSS Courageous at the time of the collision. The body of one woman was found wedged between beds in a smashed portion of the vessel, and two others were found washed ashore on the nearby Indonesian island of Bintan. Lim said the search for the fourth missing officer "was hampered by poor weather and rough seas because of the monsoon season." The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore is investigating the accident and is expected to release its findings in a few weeks. The loss of life from the accident is the worst in the history of the Republic of Singapore's navy. |
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