17 missing after Vietnamese cargo ship sinks in South China sea

A search for 17 missing people continues after the Vietnamese cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 sank in the South China Sea, The Maritime Telegraph reported.

The vessel sent a distress signal on 25 July while sailing near Fiery Cross Reef during severe weather. A Chinese rescue ship responded to the emergency, and a multinational search and rescue operation soon began. Chinese authorities said that 45 of the 62 people onboard had been rescued by Sunday. Rescue vessels and a helicopter continue searching for the remaining 17 people.

Khoi Nguyen 18 was a Vietnamese-flagged general cargo ship with a deadweight of 1,900 tonnes. Built in 2017, the vessel changed ownership in 2023, while its current commercial manager has not been publicly identified.

Authorities have not explained why 62 people were onboard, as cargo ships of this size usually carry crews of only 10 to 15.

The ship sank near Fiery Cross Reef, one of China's largest military bases in the disputed Spratly Islands. Although several countries claim the area, officials have found no evidence linking the territorial dispute to the accident.

 

Picture: CCTV