The oil tanker Merchant Mariner suffered flooding on September 20, 2026, while entering Dang Quat port in Vietnam. This tanker, carrying 174,000 tons of Malaysian iron ore, encountered problems while passing through a shallow area.
Incident Details
The oil tanker Merchant Mariner, which was heading to Dang Quat port and the Hoa Phat steel plant in Quang Ninh port, contacted local authorities at 11:30 AM and reported flooding in three ballast tanks. This incident likely occurred due to a collision with a rock approximately 15 miles from the port. AIS data shows that the ship passed through an area with varying depths up to 18 meters. At this time, the ship's speed suddenly decreased from 10.5 to 5 knots and then increased again.
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Actions Taken
The Merchant Mariner ultimately anchored and gradually settled lower in the water throughout the day, with the depth of the ship at the stern reaching 19.7 meters. The crew followed orders to seal the tank valves as a precautionary measure, and a tugboat was put on standby. Quang Ninh port authorities have requested the ship's captain and the Hoa Phat iron ore terminal to prepare a safe plan for unloading the ship under damaged conditions. Fortunately, all 24 crew members are safe, and no pollution has been reported.
As of Monday morning, the Merchant Mariner remains anchored north of Dang Quat port, awaiting further developments.
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