RI vessel sinks off Singapore

RI vessel sinks off Singapore

SINGAPORE (AFP): An Indonesian cargo ship capsized and sank after leaving Singapore early Thursday, but all 21 crew were rescued, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said.

The Tri Indah, carrying 450 tons of general cargo such as household items, foodstuffs and aluminum frames, was on its way to the Indonesian island of Batam when it sank some 200 metres (660 feet) south of Singapore's Jurong port, the MPA said.

The police coast guard reported that all crew members had been rescued, with only one suffering a minor injury.

Clean-up operations were launched after a minor gasoline leak from the fuel tank of the sunken vessel, the authority said.

"The cause of the incident is being investigated," it added, but said there had been no report of any collision leading to the capsize.