Boxship collides with bulker on Long Tau river in Vietnam

A bulker and a boxship collided late on Friday night on the Long Tau river near Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, resulting in the bulker partially sinking.

The 2018-built containership KMTC Surabaya, owned by Japan’s Nissen Kaiun and operated by Korea Marine Transport, collided with the 2015-built dry bulk carrier Glengyle, owned and operated by Hong Kong’s Uni Ships & Management, on the Saigon – Vung Tau waterway at around 10:40 pm local time.

No casualties or damage to cargo have been reported, however, the bulk carrier’s stern was punctured and partially sunk. The bulker was carrying 809 tons of gypsum.

The containership’s bow hit the bulker’s port side near the bulker’s deckhouse, penetrating the bulker’s after hold. Flooding from the damage caused the Glengyle to partially sink and is now resting on the river’s shallow bottom. The collision caused fuel oil to spill from the bulker. As of Saturday, the two ships remained interlocked, with tugs on scene and monitoring.

The Vietnamese authorities dispatched rescue vessels to separate the two vessels, while another team was sent to the location to handle the oil spill. After the incident, the two ships moved to a position close to the shore, so it did not affect traffic.