Navy said the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain collided with a merchant vessel in waters east of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca early Monday.
Initial reports indicated that the destroyer sustained damage to her port side aft.
The Navy did not provide any information on injuries, but said search and rescue efforts were underway.
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The collision was reported at 6:24 a. Japan Standard Time, while the ship was transiting to a routine port visit in Singapore, the Navy said in a statement.
The ship`s commander, Alfredo J. Sanchez, is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Commissioned in 1994, the ship was built at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Its home port is Yokosuka, Japan, and it is part of the Navy`s 7th Fleet.
The destroyer has played a part in recent tensions with North Korea, carrying out a "freedom of navigation operation" earlier this month when it sailed to within 12 nautical miles of an artificial island built up by China in the South China Sea, Reuters reported.
The operation came as President Trump seeks China`s cooperation in dealing with North Korea`s missile and nuclear programs.
The ship is named after John S., and John S., both of whom were Navy admirals and who were, respectively, the grandfather and father of Sen. McCain tweeted that he and his wife were "Keeping America`s sailors aboard the USS John S. McCain in our prayers tonight — appreciate the work of search & rescue crews."
Follow Greg Toppo on Twitter: @gtoppo
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