On December 1st an unmanned tanker, identified as the King Rich, was swept ashore by large waves, leaving it stranded on the coast of the Cham Islands, Vietnam.
According to local news, as a consequence of colliding with reefs during the grounding, the King Rich sustained damage to its bow, elevating the risk of sinking. In a maritime saga spanning over two weeks, the cargo ship King Rich has journeyed from the waters near Badoc Island in the Philippines to grounding off the coast of the Cham Islands in Vietnam.
The vessel’s unexpected odyssey began on November 18 when it was abandoned by its crew approximately 80 nautical miles from Badoc Island. The crew abandoned the vessel attributing their departure to a malfunctioning propeller shaft and water ingress. Almost two weeks later, the King Rich, after having drifted, grounded in Vietnam.
The structure of the ship, combined with ongoing large waves, is impeding the efforts of border guard officers on the Cham Islands to approach and board the vessel. Furthermore, authorities are working to determine the status of the remaining cargo and fuel on the ship.
