Dramatic video captures cargo ship crashing into fishing boat near Singapore waters

A bulker, a large cargo vessel, reportedly collided with a Chinese fishing boat near the Singapore Strait, according to a video shared on social media after the accident on Thursday (Sept 17).

In the video taken from the perspective of those on board the fishing vessel, Luqing Yuanyu 108, multiple crew members can be seen walking along the flank of the ship, cautiously watching as a bulker, First Margaux, approaches them from behind.

The bulk carrier was departing from Singapore at the time, reported CNA.

As the latter begins encroaching uncomfortably close, one of the crew members can be seen gesturing at someone indoors — presumably the vessel's captain — telling them to steer clear of the bulker.

Meanwhile, shouting can be heard as crew members possibly attempt to alert those on board the First Margaux of their presence.

However, their decision comes too late as the First Margaux's bow ploughs into the Luqing Yuanyu 108's starboard side and panic sets in.

Large quantities of seawater pours into the vessel as the collision tips the Luqing Yuanyu 108 over, with crew members clinging on to railings for dear life.

The situation seems to stabilise as the video ends, although shouting can still be heard.

The incident took place at around 4pm as the merchant ship, First Margaux, was heading towards the Strait of Malacca, Maritime Executive reported.

First Margaux is a bulker, carrying large amounts of bulk cargo, and was leaving a busy anchorage on the east side of Singapore, heading west.

Luqing Yuanyu 108 had reportedly left around the same time from an anchorage near Sentosa, and was headed south.

The collision occurred at around 5pm as both ships were headed towards the Strait of Malacca, according to media platform Maritime Executive.

On X, maritime historian and Campbell University professor Salvatore R Mercogliano highlighted that Singapore has "one of the most complicated and busy traffic areas on the planet".

"First Margaux was in the correct traffic separation scheme lane," he stated, referring to the maritime route system managed by the International Maritime Organisation to prevent ship collisions.

However, another bulker, Gas Iris, was entering the lane from the right side of the First Margaux, presenting a collision risk, he said.

As this happened, the Luqing Yuanyu 108 was also entering the lane, causing the Chinese vessel to be pincered between two bulkers.

"A slight turn to port (left) could have avoided this situation but there was a turn to starboard (right) coming up to enter Singapore," Prof Mercogliano said.

AsiaOne has contacted the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore for more information.

khooyihang@asiaone.com

据周四（9 月 17 日）事故发生后在社交媒体上分享的一段视频显示，一艘散货船（大型货船）在新加坡海峡附近与一艘中国渔船相撞。

从渔船“鲁清远渔108号”上人员的视角拍摄的视频中，可以看到多名船员沿着船舷走动，小心翼翼地注视着一艘散货船“第一玛歌号”从后面靠近。

据亚洲新闻台报道，事发时这艘散货船正从新加坡出发。

当后者开始令人不安地逼近时，可以看到一名船员向船舱内的某人（大概是船长）做手势，告诉他们远离散货船。

与此同时，可以听到喊叫声，可能是船员试图提醒“第一玛歌号”上的乘客他们的存在。

然而，他们的决定来得太晚了，“第一玛戈”号的船头撞上了“陆清远宇108”号的右舷，恐慌开始了。

碰撞导致陆清远宇108号船倾覆，大量海水涌入船内，船员们拼命抓住栏杆求生。

视频结束时，局势似乎趋于稳定，但仍能听到喊叫声。

据《海事执行》报道，事件发生在下午 4 点左右，当时商船“第一玛歌”号正驶向马六甲海峡。

“第一玛歌”号是一艘散货船，载有大量散货，正离开新加坡东侧繁忙的锚地，向西航行。

据报道，陆清远宇108号船大约在同一时间从圣淘沙附近的一个锚地出发，向南航行。

据媒体平台《海事行政》报道，碰撞发生在下午 5 点左右，当时两艘船都正驶向马六甲海峡。

X 上，海事历史学家兼坎贝尔大学教授 Salvatore R Mercogliano 强调，新加坡拥有“地球上最复杂、最繁忙的交通区域之一”。

“首先，玛戈号在正确的交通分离方案车道上，”他说道，指的是国际海事组织管理的海上航线系统，旨在防止船舶碰撞。

他说，另一辆散货船“Gas Iris”号正从“First Margaux”号的右侧驶入车道，存在碰撞风险。

与此同时，“鲁清远宇108”号也驶入了该航道，导致这艘中国船舶被夹在两艘散货船之间。

“稍微向左舷（左）转弯可以避免这种情况，但当时正要向右舷（右）转弯进入新加坡，”梅尔科利亚诺教授说。

AsiaOne已联系新加坡海事及港务管理局以获取更多信息。

khooyihang@asiaone.com