14-7-2023 (HANOI) A Singaporean container ship, navigating the Thi Vai River, veered out of the channel and collided with a cargo ship, resulting in the collapse of a 46-meter section of the Cai Mep wharf. The incident occurred on July 13 at around 5:40 pm local time.
The container ship involved, named Wan Hai A02, measures 335 meters in length, 51 meters in width, and weighs 140,000 tons. It had just finished loading and unloading cargo when it drifted out of the designated sea channel at the S-shaped bend. The ship’s port side collided with the Vassos 2, which was anchored at the Interflour Cai Mep port for unloading. The collision caused extensive damage to the wharf, including the collapse of a section used for cargo handling. The incident also led to the destruction of part of the conveyor belt system, including the equipment used to extract floating goods from the water.
Fortunately, there were no casualties reported as a result of the collision. In response to the incident, the Vung Tau Port Authority, along with the port management unit, towed the Wan Hai A02 ship to buoy number 0, located approximately 30 kilometers away from the incident site. Additionally, a rescue team was deployed to address potential oil spills and assist in unloading the cargo from the Vassos 2.
Authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage and gathering relevant data, including footage from cameras and wind measuring devices, to determine the cause of the collision.
A spokesperson from the port cluster management unit stated that the situation has been resolved to prevent any disruptions to traffic and cargo operations at the Cai Mep port. Efforts are also being made to minimize any adverse impact on the marine environment. The ship owner and the port management unit will engage in discussions to determine the compensation for the damages caused.
The Cai Mep port cluster is ranked among the world’s top 20 largest ports, with seven operational container ports and a designed capacity of 6.8 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per year. As per Vietnam’s seaport development master plan until 2050, the Cai Mep – Thi Vai port is designated as a special port, aiming to become an international transshipment hub in the future.
