A sand-laden Bolivian-registered barge, Oceanline SC208 which capsized yesterday and drifted into Malaysian waters overnight, has been towed to sheltered waters off Malaysia this morning.

In a statement, the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said 14 crew members - 13 Chinese nationals and a Malaysian - remained unaccounted for.

It said vessels from MPA, the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Singapore Police Coast Guard were continuing search and rescue (SAR) operations in Singapore waters.

Navigational broadcasts on the SAR operations are ongoing. MPA is also contacting transiting merchant vessels to keep a lookout for missing persons and to report any sightings to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Singapore.

On Wednesday, MPA received a report on the capsize of Oceanline SC208 at 7.5 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca in Singapore waters.

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