Singapore ends search efforts for missing crew from capsized barge

The Bolivia-flagged barge Heng Hong 168 capsized on 19 December in Singapore waters about three nautical miles west of Horsburgh Lighthouse.

“Of the 11 crew members reported to be on board Heng Hong 168 when MPA was notified of the incident on 19 December 2013, six crew members were rescued on 19 December 2013 and one crew member was rescued on 22 December 2013 in the course of the search and rescue operations,” MPA said in a statement last Friday.

“The identity of the body recovered on 24 December 2013 is being verified by the Indonesian authorities and it is still not clear whether this is one of the missing crew members from Heng Hong 168,” MPA said.

The port authority added that it will continue to inform vessels passing through the vicinity of the incident site to keep a lookout for the four persons that remain unaccounted for.