A Chinese-flagged bulk carrier collided with the Singapore-flagged containership Wan Hai A17 (144,572 dwt) on the evening of 25 October in the Pearl River Estuary, with Chinese authorities reporting two crew members remain missing and a search and rescue operation underway.
According to a statement from Wan Hai, its vessel was inbound when the bulker, identified as Hai Li 5 (8,000 tons), lost power and struck the containership. Following the impact, the bulker began to sink rapidly. The containership immediately activated emergency protocols: lifebuoys were deployed, emergency signals sent, and a rescue boat was launched.
Local authorities from the Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration temporarily suspended vessel traffic in the area to facilitate the rescue mission. So far, 13 crew members from the bulker have been rescued. Leaving two unaccounted for. The Wan Hai A17, which had 23 crew aboard, reported no injuries and is now anchored in the Lingding Channel under investigation by Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), as the flag state.
The incident is under joint investigation by Chinese and Singaporean authorities, focusing on the cause of the power loss on the bulker and the circumstances of the collision. Maritime safety officials have not yet released details on environmental or cargo damage.
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