Casualty News

MERCHANT MARINER

Date
September 18, 2026

Type
Grounding / Water ingress

Voyage
Teluk Rubiah, Malaysia / Dung Quat, Vietnam

Reports have been received that MERCHANT MARINER suffered water ingress into ballast tanks Nos. 4, 5 and 6 on the port side while approaching Dung Quat Port, Vietnam on 18 September 2026. Initial reports indicate that the vessel may have made contact with a submerged rock or reef approximately 15 nautical miles from the Dung Quat anchorage.

The vessel was carrying approximately 174,614 tonnes of BRBF iron ore from Teluk Rubiah, Malaysia to Dung Quat, Vietnam, for delivery to Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel Joint Stock Company.

The water ingress caused the vessel to develop a list to port. No water has been reported in the cargo holds and all 24 crew members are reported safe.

The vessel subsequently anchored off Dung Quat. The Vietnamese authorities have required the vessel’s condition, hull integrity and stability to be assessed and a suitable rescue and cargo discharge plan to be prepared before unloading can proceed.

It is also reported that the owners have appointed a salvage contractor to assess the vessel and prepare a salvage plan. Tug assistance has been maintained in the vicinity of the vessel. Latest available AIS information indicates that the vessel remained at anchor off Dung Quat on 24 September 2026.

Although there are presently no reports of water entering the cargo holds, the cargo remains on board the damaged vessel and salvage and cargo discharge arrangements are still being considered. Cargo interests may therefore be required to deal with salvage, General Average and related security issues arising from the casualty.

Dolphin Maritime has many years of experience dealing with groundings, bulk cargo casualties, salvage and General Average claims. If you are the insurers of cargo on board this vessel and require assistance with any claims or security issues arising from this incident, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We can assist with:

• Arranging cargo damage surveys
• Investigating the cause of the incident
• Provision of Average Guarantees
• Provision of Salvage Guarantees
• Recovery of losses on NO CURE NO PAY terms
• Defence of General Average claims on NO CURE NO PAY terms
• Representing cargo insurers in relation to LOF Salvage Claims

Photography courtesy of MarineTraffic