Cargo ship Vinalines Queen

According to the centre, at 7:00am on December 25, while transporting 54,400 tonnes of nickel ore to an destination in the northeast Philippines, called Luzon Island, the ship, owned by Vinalines Shipping Company, a subsidiary of Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), made a transmission to Vietnam MRCC that it was leaning 180 degrees. Afterwards the signal was lost. 

Vietnam MRCC then sought the help of rescue forces from the Philippines and Taiwan. Authorities from the Philippines, however, said that bad weather in the area where the ship was lost prevented them from sending any teams or equipment. 

By 11:15 on December 26, Taiwan responded that they had twice sent rescue teams to the area, but had failed to make any contact because of weather conditions. 

Vietnam MRCC has also called for help from Hong Kong and Japan in rescue efforts. Still there has been no information about the fate of the ship or its crew. On December 26, Vietnamese and Japanese helicopters made a search of the area without making any visual contact. 

Bad weather may have been the cause for the vessel's disappearance. 

By late December 26, Vinalines Shipping Company announced that it still had been unable to locate the ship. Vietnam MRCC continues to cooperate with other regional countries in the search. 

The cargo ship, Vinalines Queen, was built in Japan in 2006, and is well equipped. 

DTiNews will continue to post updates on the situation as it progresses.