One dead after bulker capsizes off Ha Tinh, Vietnam

One person was killed after a cargo ship capsized and sank in bad weather in the waters off Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province on Thursday, October 31.

The bulk carrier Thanh Cong 999 had been transporting rock powder from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh when it capsized some nine kilometres from the port of Vung Ang at around 11:53 local time on Thursday.

The crew were able to send out a distress signal just before their vessel sank.

A Vietnam Coast Guard vessel and some local fishing boats immediately sailed to the bulk carrier’s last reported position to render assistance to the distressed sailors. All but one of Thanh Cong 999‘s crew of 13 were safely picked up out of water during search and rescue (SAR) operations that lasted into the late evening hours of Thursday.

One crewmember had been initially declared missing but was found dead on Monday, November 4.

The deceased individual was reportedly discovered floating in the water approximately 140 kilometres from the area where Thanh Cong 999 sank.

The survivors claimed their vessel had capsized after it was struck by a large wave.