The MSC Hermes III was abandoned in the South China Sea after an emergency. All 25 crew members were rescued, and an investigation is underway.
The Liberia-flagged container ship MSC Hermes III was abandoned by its crew following an emergency in the South China Sea. While all 25 sailors on board were rescued, the approximately 2,490 TEU capacity vessel continues to drift unmanned.
The emergency aboard the MSC Hermes III, which was sailing in the South China Sea, raised alarms in maritime traffic in the region.
According to information reported by Splash247, the crew was evacuated following the incident on the 20-year-old container ship. All 25 crew members were safely rescued with the assistance of other vessels in the area.
The crew of MSC Ruby conducted the rescue.
After a distress call from the ship, nearby vessels participated in the operation.
The 13,000 TEU capacity MSC Ruby completed the rescue operation by picking up the 25 crew members from the lifeboat. Initial reports indicate that there were no injuries in the incident.
It was also reported that the vessels MSC Florentina and MSC Turin III were present in the incident area.
Following the rescue operation, it was stated that the MSC Hermes III had not sunk, but was drifting uncontrollably in the South China Sea.
In the navigation warning, the vessel was described as an 'abandoned and adrift ship.' The latest location information indicated that it was approximately 300 kilometers east of Vietnam.
A warning was issued that the ship could pose a navigational hazard until September 25.
The cause of the incident has not yet been clarified.
While some sources claim that a fire broke out on the ship, this information has not been officially confirmed so far. Neither the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority nor MSC has provided detailed explanations regarding the exact cause of the accident.
The MSC Hermes III was built in Poland in 2006.
Flag: Liberia
Capacity: 2,490 TEU
Length: 212 meters
DWT: 38,193 tons
The ship joined the MSC fleet in 2020. At the time of the incident, it was en route to Jakarta after stops in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
