Bulker Collision Off Singapore: How a Fishing Vessel Survived
A Chinese fishing vessel narrowly avoided disaster after a bulker’s bow struck its stern in Singapore’s congested.
A Chinese fishing vessel narrowly avoided disaster after a bulker collided with its stern in a high-traffic zone near Singapore, according to footage and vessel tracking data.
The incident occurred at 0800 GMT on Thursday in the westbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) off Singapore’s coast. The 80,000 dwt bulker First Margaux, departing from an anchorage east of the city-state, was en route to the Strait of Malacca when it encountered the Chinese-flagged fishing vessel Luqing Yuanyu 108, which had set off from near Sentosa moments earlier.
Collision in congested waters: Fishing Vessel
As both vessels entered the TSS, the bulker—traveling 2-3 knots faster—began overtaking the fishing boat from its port side. Despite apparent attempts by the crew to alert the smaller vessel, First Margaux’s bow struck Luqing Yuanyu 108’s starboard quarter around 0900 GMT. The impact forced the fishing vessel to heel sharply to port, allowing water to flood its low-slung deck.
Safe Bulkers
Remarkably, the fishing vessel remained operational after the collision. Its AIS signal continued transmitting, and by Sunday, tracking data confirmed it had reached a nearby berth. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
Aftermath and response
The bulker, owned by a Japanese company but managed by a Chinese firm and flagged in Panama, maintained its course for nearly two hours before stopping, turning back, and anchoring. First Margaux, a three-year-old vessel with a clean inspection record, was not immediately detained.
The incident underscores the hazards of navigating one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, where fishing vessels—often less visible to larger ships—operate alongside bulkers and container vessels in confined spaces. The minimal speed difference between the two vessels proved critical in the collision.
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