Tragic Collision Near Ningbo Port Claims One Life and Injures Three Seafarers

Last weekend, a tragic collision occurred between a domestic container ship and a domestic dry bulk carrier near the Ningbo port complex. The Ningbo Maritime Safety Administration confirmed that one seafarer lost their life, and three others were injured in the incident. The collision took place in the early morning hours of March 29, involving the brand new containership Ningyuan Beilun and the dry bulk carrier Jianghai Zhida 66. The bulker sank in just five minutes after the collision, with nine crew members rescued uninjured and three taken to a hospital.

The containership, Ningyuan Beilun, had recently been delivered to Ningbo Ocean Shipping and was part of the company’s expansion efforts. It was departing Ningbo carrying 934 TEU when the collision occurred. On the other hand, the dry bulk carrier, Jianghai Zhida 66, which entered service in May 2023, had a crew of 13 aboard at the time of the incident. The vessels collided in a busy area near the port complex, leading to swift rescue operations to locate and assist the crew members.

Despite the tragic outcome for the crew of the dry bulk carrier, the containership sustained only minor damage in the collision. It is currently being held in the Zhoushan Anchorage as investigations into the incident are ongoing. Ningbo Ocean Shipping had recently celebrated the addition of the new vessel to its fleet, highlighting the company’s growth in capacity and efficiency. With a total capacity exceeding 50,000 TEU and a fleet of over 100 ships serving 40 routes, the company aims to provide better energy savings and transportation efficiency with its new vessels.

Source