Panama-Flagged Cargo Ship Collides With Chinese Fishing Vessel Near Singapore

A Panama-flagged bulk carrier collided with a Chinese fishing vessel near Singapore on September 17, with no injuries or fatalities reported as authorities investigate.

The 229-metre First Margaux came into contact with the 49-metre Luqing Yuanyu 108 in the westbound lane of the Singapore Strait’s traffic separation scheme, according to AIS-based tracking cited by The Maritime Executive.

The incident was captured on video from the fishing vessel, reportedly showing the bulk carrier approaching before its bow struck the fishing vessel’s starboard quarter at about 0900 GMT.

What Happened

The Maritime Executive reported that First Margaux departed an anchorage east of Singapore at about 0800 GMT on September 17, while Luqing Yuanyu 108 left another anchorage near Sentosa around the same time.

AIS-based reconstruction cited in the report indicated that the bulk carrier was travelling about two to three knots faster than the fishing vessel as it approached from the latter’s port side.

Fishing Vessel Continued Transmitting

Luqing Yuanyu 108 continued transmitting an automatic identification system signal after the incident and remained visible on tracking data, suggesting it survived the collision and reached a nearby berth, The Maritime Executive reported.

The Panama Maritime Authority confirmed to La Prensa Panamá that it was investigating the incident, but no detailed official account of the circumstances had been released.

Vessels Involved

First Margaux is a Japanese-owned, Chinese-managed bulk carrier flying the Panamanian flag. Built in 2023, it is 229 metres long and has a deadweight capacity of about 82,000 tonnes.

Luqing Yuanyu 108 is a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel built in 2014, with a gross tonnage of about 496 tonnes.

The collision took place in a busy section of the Singapore Strait, where commercial ships and smaller vessels operate within managed traffic lanes.