Freighter Aground and Taking On Water off Vietnam

A Vietnam-flagged general cargo ship carrying 3,000 tons of rice lost control due to strong winds and ran aground off the coast of Binh Thuan, 10 miles from the town of La Gi, Vietnam, yesterday morning local time, according to local media.

The 3,083 dwt Hai Truong 36 was en route from Haiphong when the accident occurred.

The grounding reportedly breached the part of the hull around the ship’s ballast water treatment system, causing the water ingress which tilted the 2009-built freighter, putting it in danger of capsizing.

The ship’s crew of 13 have been pumping the water out of the ship’s ballast water treatment system.

The crew and the local fishermen have also unloaded 500 tons of rice to deballast the ship.

Hai Truong 36 is expected to be towed after another 200 tons of rice is unloaded.

World Maritime News Staff