HANOI, Vietnam – Search-and-rescue teams from Vietnam, China and the Philippines continued operations Tuesday after a Vietnamese cargo ship sank in the South China Sea, with the number of survivors rising to 48 while 14 people remained missing.
Vietnamese authorities said three additional crew members from the Khoi Nguyen 18 had been rescued, increasing the number of survivors from the vessel’s 62-member complement to 48. Officials did not immediately provide details about the latest rescues.
The cargo ship sank late Saturday near Fiery Cross Reef, a Chinese-controlled artificial island and military outpost in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Multinational Search Operation Continues
Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said the vessel went down during severe weather in the East Sea, the name Vietnam uses for the South China Sea.
The ministry said all 48 survivors have been transferred to Vietnamese authorities, where they are receiving medical care before returning to the mainland.
Vietnam launched rescue operations immediately after the sinking and has coordinated closely with Chinese authorities. Chinese rescue vessels, helicopters and other assets have joined the search for the missing crew members.
The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft after receiving a request for assistance from Vietnam. Philippine officials said the operation is being conducted under international maritime agreements and existing bilateral cooperation.
Vessel Last Reported Near Vietnam
According to vessel-tracking services, Khoi Nguyen 18 is a general cargo ship built in 2017.
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MarineTraffic data cited by The Associated Press showed the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) last transmitted its position near Vietnam in March.
Under international maritime safety rules established by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), large commercial vessels are generally required to keep AIS transponders operating continuously so they can broadcast their identity, position and course.
Sinking Highlights Strategic Waterway
The accident occurred in one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime regions.
China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea despite overlapping territorial claims by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The waterway carries an estimated $5 trillion in global trade annually and is believed to contain significant oil and natural gas resources beneath the seabed, making it one of the world’s most economically and strategically important shipping corridors.
Although the sinking occurred in disputed waters, authorities from Vietnam, China and the Philippines have continued cooperating on rescue operations as the search for the remaining missing crew members entered its fourth day.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
