Search and rescue operations for missing crew from capsized barge ends

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Friday afternoon terminated search and rescue operations for those still missing from barge Heng Hong 168, which capsized on Dec 19 near Horsburgh Lighthouse in Singapore's eastern waters.

The search ended at 5pm on Friday after nine days of operations which involved more than 300 vessels and two aircraft covering more than 1,500 square kilometres, said MPA in a statement. Seven of the eleven crew members reported to have been onboard the Bolivia-flagged barge were rescued on Dec 19 and 22.

It is still not clear whether a body recovered by the Indonesian authorities on Dec 24 is of one of the crew members.

The spokesman added that the MPA will continue to inform vessels passing through the vicinity of the capsize site to look out for the four missing persons. The MPA thanked eleven agencies and companies from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia which helped in the search and rescue operations.

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