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UPDATE: The USS John McCain (DDG-56) collided with the Liberian-flagged tanker Alnic MC around 5:24 a.m. on Monday local time. Five American sailors are injured and ten are missing.

The he US Naval Institute reports that the crew is fighting flooding in several spaces on the ship. The ship has limited propulsion and electrical power but good communications as it heads back into port. The big deck amphibious warship USS America (LHA-6) is steaming toward McCain to offer support to the stricken destroyer.

The Alnic MC is a 183 meter (600 ft) product/chemical tanker built in 2008.

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A U.S. warship was damaged after colliding with a merchant vessel east of Singapore on Monday, the U.S. Navy said.

The Navy said in a statement the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with the Alnic MC vessel while “the ship was transiting to a routine port visit in Singapore.”

“Initial reports indicate John S. McCain sustained damage to her port side aft,” the Navy said.

Search and rescue efforts are underway in coordination with local authorities. In addition to tug boats out of Singapore, the Republic of Singapore Navy ship RSS Gallant (97), RSN helicopters and Police Coast Guard vessel Basking Shark (55) are currently in the area to render assistance.

MV-22s and SH-60s from USS America are also responding and the USS McCain is currently sailing under its own power and heading to port.

This crash came days after the top three leaders aboard the USS Fitzgerald were relieved of command. That warship was damaged badly in a collision with the ACX Crystal, a Philippine-flagged container ship, off the coast of Japan in June. Seven American sailors were killed.

The USS McCain is named after John S. McCain, Sr., and John S. McCain, Jr., both Admirals in the United States Navy. The latter is the father of US Senator John McCain.