Chinese Bulker Sinks Within 5 Minutes After Colliding With Containership In Ningbo

A newly delivered domestic containership collided with a dry bulk carrier in the early hours of March 29, 2025, in the waters near Yangmao Island, Ningbo.

According to the Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration, the dry bulk carrier sank immediately after the collision, killing one seafarer and injuring three others.

The incident happened at approximately 2:50 am when the containership Ningyuan Beilun (15,000 dwt) owned by Ningbo Ocean Shipping, collided with the dry bulk carrier Jianghai Zhida 66 (14,000 dwt).

The containership had recently entered service in February 2025 and was departing Ningbo with 934 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) onboard.

The Jianghai Zhida 66, which was built in May 2023 and operated by Zhoushan Hongtong Shipping Development Co, Ltd, was scheduled to load cargo at Ningbo Port before heading to Jiangyin Port.

After the collision, the Jianghai Zhida 66 started taking on water and sank within five minutes. All 13 crew members aboard were thrown into the sea.

A rescue operation was launched immediately and lasted about four hours. Nine crew members were rescued unharmed, while three were hospitalised. Unfortunately, one crew member was found dead.

The Ningyuan Beilun sustained only minor damage and is currently anchored at Zhoushan Anchorage as investigations continue.

Authorities have yet to determine whether the bulk carrier was loaded at the time of the incident. Maritime authorities have issued a navigation warning, advising all vessels to avoid the accident site at coordinates 29-54. 18N 122-10. 99E.

Per ShipView data, the Jianghai Zhida 66 was a small and flexible dry bulk carrier with an overall length of 129.7 meters and a width of 22.6 meters. It had a gross tonnage of 8,470 tons and a speed of 11 knots.

The Ningyuan Beilun, meanwhile, measured 136.1 meters by 25.0 meters, with a gross tonnage of 11,736 and a speed of 12.7 knots.

It departed Ningbo Meishan Island Container Terminal at 00:56 am and was scheduled to arrive at Zhapu Port by 5:30 pm on March 29, 2025.

Reference: xindemarinenews

Source: Maritime Shipping News