MSC Crew Abandoned 38,193-DWT Ship After Engine Room Flooding Off Vietnam

The container vessel MSC Hermes III was evacuated as a precaution after its engine room flooded with water while sailing 186 miles east of Vietnam on September 22.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed the incident, stating that all 25 crew members abandoned the ship that morning. The crew was transferred to another MSC vessel while tugs were sent to assist the drifting MSC Hermes III. The 212-meter (695-foot) ship, built in 2006 and registered in Liberia, operates on a regional route linking China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Evacuation Triggered by Engine Room Flooding

The vessel’s master ordered the evacuation after detecting water entering the engine room, a critical area affecting propulsion and stability. Following an assessment, the crew returned to the ship, though the exact date of their reboarding was not specified.

The Singapore Maritime and Ports Authority, which first reported the incident, confirmed the crew’s safe evacuation but did not provide details on the cause of the flooding. The MSC Hermes III, with a capacity of 2,490 TEU and a deadweight tonnage of 38,193, has been in service for MSC since 2020.

Medical Emergency and Ongoing Repairs

On September 28, as the vessel neared Vung Tau port, a crew member suffered a head injury during docking preparations. Vietnamese authorities conducted a medical evacuation, and MSC later confirmed the individual was “recovering well.”

The ship remains docked in Vung Tau, where investigators are examining the incident, repairs are being carried out, and cargo is being unloaded. According to MSC’s tracking system, the MSC Hermes III is scheduled to depart on October 3, heading first to Singapore and then to Hong Kong.

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