HMAS SUCCESS, (auxiliary oiler replenishment), and HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), recovered 14 bodies from the sea, near the island of Palawan, while conducting a transit of the South China Sea from Subic Bay, (the Philippines), to Singapore. The decomposing bodies were mainly of Indo-Chinese ethnicity, but one body appeared to be that of a Caucasian with English language tattoos on his arms. When found, the bodies had been in the water for about a week, and none had any valuables or identification on them; which suggested they may have been attacked and robbed by pirates. When it became apparent that the dead could not be identified, and landing the bodies for burial in Singapore was not possible, it was decided to bury the 14 at sea in weighted-down shrouds.