Twenty-two lives were lost in a tragic Chinese tugboat sinking accident. The incident involved the tugboat “Wanshenzhou 67” and occurred on a fast-moving portion of China’s Yangtze River near Shanghai around 3 in the afternoon on January 15, 2015.
There were twenty-five people on board the tug, which was undergoing a sea trial at the time, when it capsized. Rescue efforts were delayed because of strong currents and cold water, but three passengers, all of whom were Chinese, were rescued. The remaining twenty-two passengers perished in this terrible accident.
The deceased individuals were from many different countries, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Indonesia. Four of the victims were employed by a subsidiary of SembCorp Marine, a Singaporean company that was planning to charter the tug.
Potential Causes of Tragic Chinese Tugboat Sinking Accident
Early reports are attributing the sinking of the tug to a number of factors. The boat was attempting the trials without first completing the required procedures and without reporting the condition of the ship (as required by the applicable regulations). And, the tug apparently sank in the middle of a full swing because of improper handling.
Accidents like this one sadly happen far too often, causing injuries and even death for maritime workers. Hopefully the companies involved can identify precisely what went wrong and can make all necessary changes to avoid any needless loss of life in the future.
