Fourteen seafarers are today missing after a Bolivian-registered sand-carrier has capsized in Singapore waters.

The incident happened yesterday (20 May) at around 04:20 h local time.

According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Oceanline SC208 had 15 crew members on board at the time of the incident, before the barge sunk at 7.5 n miles northeast of Pedra Branca in Singaporean waters.

Only one crew member, a Chinese national, was reportedly rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, while the other 14 crew members comprising one Malaysian and 13 Chinese nationals are still unaccounted for.

Upon receiving the notification, the MPA immediately deployed two vessels and has engaged salvage companies to conduct salvage operations. In the meantime, Singapore is also co-ordinating the search-and-rescue (SAR) operations, which involves vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy including RSS Daring and RSS Fearless, the Singapore Police Coast Guard, and several Malaysian vessels.

The MPA is investigating the incident and made navigational broadcasts for vessels to keep clear of the SAR area and to report any sightings of the missing persons.

Source IHS Maritime.