Vessels Collide in China

A small tanker and a sand barge collided near Zhoushan.

News ID: 71654

Date: 17 January 2017 - 12:45

THREE seafarers are still missing following a collision between a small tanker Heng Fan 178 and a sand barge Zhe Lin Ji 621 near Zhoushan on Sunday, according to MANA.

An official from Zhoushan Maritime Safety Administration told Lloyd’s List that search and rescue operations are ongoing and are expected to continue for another one to three days.

The two vessels collided off the south entrance of Shuangyumen waterway at 1818 hrs local time, when Hang Fan 178 was transporting bunker fuel from Tianjin to Fujian.

The barge subsequently sank leading to three missing crew members, while the tanker remained nearly intact, the ZMSA official said.

Heng Fan 178 is owned by Chinese citizen Cheng Guangfei and operated by a third party operator.

Mr Cheng said the ship is currently being handled by the ZMSA but refused to comment further.