17 missing after Vietnamese cargo ship sinks near disputed Spratly Islands reef
Rescuers recovered 45 of 62 crew members by Sunday noon after the Khoi Nguyen 18 went down in stormy weather near Fiery Cross Reef, a flashpoint in the South China Sea territorial disputes.
Sinking in stormy seas
The Vietnamese-flagged cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18, nearly 70 metres long and with a gross tonnage of 999 tonnes, was carrying 62 Vietnamese nationals when it ran into trouble on Saturday evening. It issued a distress signal while navigating adverse weather near Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, in the Spratly Islands. The vessel sank shortly after, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Chinese search-and-rescue ship was the first to receive what appeared to be the distress signal, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
The ship sank while sailing in adverse weather conditions.
Search and rescue
Vietnamese authorities reached the site and launched a joint operation with Chinese forces. By Sunday noon local time, 45 of the 62 people on board had been recovered, while 17 remained missing, foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said. Earlier, Chinese state television CCTV had reported 39 rescued and 23 missing, indicating the operation was still active. The effort involved six Chinese ships, one helicopter and one Vietnamese vessel, along with nearby commercial ships.
Vietnamese search and rescue teams, with the support of Chinese search and rescue forces, especially ships and helicopters, as well as nearby vessels, were able to recover 45 of the 62 people on board.
- Another Vietnamese vessel sinks in the Spratly area; 33 fishermen rescued, 3 missing.
- Khoi Nguyen 18 issues distress signal near Fiery Cross Reef; Chinese rescue ship first to respond.
- 45 crew members rescued, 17 remain missing; search continues with Chinese and Vietnamese assets.
A disputed reef
Fiery Cross Reef sits in the Spratly archipelago, a chain of reefs, islets and atolls that China controls but that Vietnam and the Philippines also claim. Beijing asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including waters close to the coasts of neighbouring states, citing historical grounds. It has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that found its claims have no legal basis. China has expanded reefs under its control in the Spratlys, building airstrips capable of handling military aircraft, naval facilities and other infrastructure. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei all have overlapping claims in the strategically vital waterway.
Critical trade route
Roughly 20% of global seaborne trade passed through the South China Sea in 2024, according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The sea lane is a conduit for energy shipments and manufactured goods, making any incident in the area a concern for international shipping and regional stability.
Second sinking in three days
The Khoi Nguyen 18 disaster followed another Vietnamese vessel loss on Friday in the Spratly area. That ship sank due to rough seas, with 33 fishermen rescued and three still missing, Vietnamese media reported. The two incidents occurred within three days in the same contested and often stormy waters.
