Three Bodies Recovered Near Sunken ‘Thorco Cloud’ in Singapore Strait

An Indonesia rescue team approaches the sunken freighter MV Thorco Cloud, which sank after colliding with a tanker in the Singapore Strait on December 16, 2015. REUTERS/M N Kanwa/Antara Foto

Three bodies have been recovered near the wreckage of the sunken Thorco Cloud almost two weeks after the freighter sank in the Singapore Strait.

Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping says it was informed by local search and rescue officials that over Christmas teams recovered three bodies, including one that has been confirmed as one of the six missing crew members of the Thorco Cloud.

The 10,385 dwt Antigua and Barbuda-flagged freighter sank after colliding with a chemical tanker in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme in the Singapore Strait on the night of December 16th. The tanker, Stolt Commitment, sustained only minor damage to it bow, but the Thorco Cloud sank with the loss of six crew members. Six others were rescued from the water following the incident.

RELATED: Freighter Sinks in Singapore Strait After Collision – AIS VIDEO

Thorco Shipping says only one of the bodies has been confirmed as one of the six missing crew members, and DNA testing is used to identify the two other recovered bodies.

“The search for the remaining missing crew members continues unabated, as well as the authorities’ investigation,” the statement from Thorco read.

The collision occurred in Indonesian waters approximately 6 nautical miles (11 km) north-west of Batam.

The 37,438 dwt tanker is owned by Stolt Tankers, part of Norwegian bulk liquid transportation and storage company Stolt-Nielsen Ltd.

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