Norwegian cargo ship sinks off Vietnam, 18 crew members missing

[webfact]

Norwegian cargo ship sinks off Vietnam, 18 crew members missing

MANILA: -- A Norwegian cargo ship with 19 Filipino crew members sank off the coast of southern Vietnam with only one man known to have survived, officials said on January 4.

Two bodies have been recovered since the Bulk Jupiter sank on January 2 en route from Malaysia to China, and Vietnamese rescuers aided by commercial ships passing through the area continued to search for the others, according to Vietnamese authorities and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement issued on January 3, Bergen-based Gearbulk said Bulk Jupiter issued distress signals at 22:54 hours UTC on January 1 in position lat 9″.01′ 01:001N, long 109″ 15′ 26.01E.

The vessel departed Kuantan on 30th December 2014 at around 20:00 hours local time, with 19 crew members, all Filipinos, on board and about 46,400 mts of Bauxite in bulk, stowed in all five of her cargo holds.

Repeated attempts to contact the vessel on all communication channels were unsuccessful.

The Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediatley initiated search and rescue operation. Lifeboats and life rafts have been observed in and inspected but found empty.

The tug boat, M/V OLNG Muttrah, has picked up one surviving crew member in the area. In addition, two bodies have been recovered.

The search and rescue operation, lead by Vietnam MRCC, Vung Tao, continues.

All relatives of the crew have been notified and a family centre has been established in Manila.

Our focus is now on the search and rescue operation and to look after the families affected.

Gearbulk wants to express that their thoughts are with the Crew and their Families in this difficult situation, and also to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their help and support in this difficult situation.

Source: Gearbulk

Source: http://scandasia.com/norwegian-cargo-ship-sinks-off-vietnam-18-crew-members-missing/

-- ScandAsia 2015-01-05

[webfact]

1 rescued, 2 bodies recovered from sunken ship with all-Filipino crew



MANILA: -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday that one was rescued while two bodies were recovered from a cargo ship with an all-Filipino crew that sank off Vietnam Friday night.

Reportedly rescued was the chief cook of the Bulk Jupiter, DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

In a crew list released by Ho Chi Minh-based news website Tuoi Tre News, the chief cook was identified as Angelito Rojas from Tubungan, Iloilo.

“So far, one crew member, reported to be the chief cook, has been rescued while two bodies have been recovered. The search for the 16 other crew members continues,” Jose said. The identities of the retrieved remains have yet to be released by the DFA.

The 56,000-ton Bahamian-flagged cargo ship which is carrying iron ore from Malaysia to China reportedly sank at 9:41pm on Jan 2 some 150 nautical miles off the coast of Vung Tau city in southern Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Jose said the DFA confirmed the sinking of the Bulk Jupiter through a note verbale sent by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnamese authorities are said to be leading the search for the crew members, aided by vessels from Liberia, Oman, Singapore, and China.

The DFA, through its embassy in Hanoi, will continue to coordinate with the Vietnam Maritime Research and Rescue Coordinating Center in Ho Chi Minh City for updates on the rescued crewman and the arrangements for the repatriation of the retrieved remains, Jose ended.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/1-rescued-2-bodies-recovered-sunken-ship-filipino-crew


-- Thai PBS 2015-01-05

[Nemesis7]

Too many accidents happening around asia.

Hope they find more survivors.

[neverdie]

RIP terrible.

What happened?

[Thai at Heart]

No liferafts?

[englishoak]

No liferafts?

The Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediatley initiated search and rescue operation. Lifeboats and life rafts have been observed in and inspected but found empty.

Apparently they didnt get a chance to use them.

Ships dont just spring a leak, be nice to have details of something in news reports, like maybe the weather in the area at the time ? At least theres a survivor to tell what went on

[weegee]

" Gearbulk"??? this sounds like a company named "SeaBulk' who might have changed it's name...

Everything they had on the High Seas was worn out crap 10yrs ago....that no one else wanted.

[Seastallion]

No liferafts?

The Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediatley initiated search and rescue operation. Lifeboats and life rafts have been observed in and inspected but found empty.

Apparently they didnt get a chance to use them.

Ships dont just spring a leak, be nice to have details of something in news reports, like maybe the weather in the area at the time ? At least theres a survivor to tell what went on

After the initial distress call, the ship was not able to be contacted on any channel.

Must have been a very sudden and catastrophic event. Ships don't just fall to the bottom of the sea, it takes time. Even an explosion would have given the signals officer or duty officer time to respond to replies to the distress call.

I can only surmise that she had started taking on water some time before it was noticed, and by that time it was too late. Asleep at the wheel.

[weegee]

Probably broke in half, from metal fatigue...where there was very little left....another Ship of shame?

[jchfriis]

" Gearbulk"??? this sounds like a company named "SeaBulk' who might have changed it's name...

Everything they had on the High Seas was worn out crap 10yrs ago....that no one else wanted.

2 different companies - and the ship was built in 2006, so not that old.

[Thai at Heart]

No liferafts?

The Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediatley initiated search and rescue operation. Lifeboats and life rafts have been observed in and inspected but found empty.

Apparently they didnt get a chance to use them.

Ships dont just spring a leak, be nice to have details of something in news reports, like maybe the weather in the area at the time ? At least theres a survivor to tell what went on

After the initial distress call, the ship was not able to be contacted on any channel.

Must have been a very sudden and catastrophic event. Ships don't just fall to the bottom of the sea, it takes time. Even an explosion would have given the signals officer or duty officer time to respond to replies to the distress call.

I can only surmise that she had started taking on water some time before it was noticed, and by that time it was too late. Asleep at the wheel.

Indeed. Must have been very fast. Very scary.