A damaged section of wharf No. 10 at the Hoa Phat Dung Quat complex's dedicated port in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, after the Aquacharm bulk carrier struck it on October 18, 2026. Photo:
All 22 crew members aboard the vessel were safe, and no oil spill had been recorded, according to a preliminary report from Dung Quat Border Guard Station.
On Tuesday, the Quang Ngai Maritime Administration issued a document requiring the shipowner, captain and relevant parties to implement maritime safety measures following the collision.
The 292-meter-long vessel, which has a deadweight tonnage of 182,309 metric tons, arrived at the Dung Quat anchorage at 4:56 am on October 14.
At 4:45 pm on October 18, a pilot contacted the Dung Quat vessel traffic service to arrange assistance in guiding the ship to wharf No. 10.
About an hour later, while maneuvering toward wharf No. 10, the Aquacharm struck an under-construction 50-meter section of the wharf connecting it to wharf No. 11.
The captain and pilot continued maneuvering the vessel after the collision, and it reached wharf No. 10 at 6:30 pm.
A large tear in the bow of the Aquacharm bulk carrier after it collided with the unfinished section of wharf No. 10. Photo: T.D. / Tuoi Tre
The iron ore cargo was later unloaded, and the Hoa Phat Dung Quat complex coordinated with relevant parties to address the incident, according to the complex.
Wharf No. 10 was affected by the collision, while the port's other wharves remained operational. Production continued as normal.
Dung Quat Border Guard Station said its personnel arrived after receiving reports of the collision at wharf No. 10 and drew up an incident record at 8:50 pm on October 18.
A preliminary inspection found damage to both the port and starboard sides of the ship's bow, including a tear measuring about five meters.
The extent of the damage to the wharf has yet to be assessed, the border guard station said.
According to preliminary information from the ship's agent and captain cited in the border guard report, the collision may have resulted from the pilot's failure to control the vessel's speed amid communication errors, despite repeated reports about the ship's speed.
The cause of the collision and the responsibilities of those involved remain under investigation.
The Aquacharm bulk carrier is docked at wharf No. 10 after unloading its iron ore cargo, with a large tear visible in its bow above the waterline. Photo: T.D. / Tuoi Tre
The Quang Ngai Maritime Administration has formed an eight-member team to investigate the maritime accident, led by Phan Duc Cuong, deputy director of the administration.
With the storm season underway and a tropical depression and strong northeasterly monsoon winds affecting the area, the administration has also ordered safety measures for the vessel's movement from the wharf to the anchorage and while it remains there.
The shipowner must arrange for at least one tugboat equipped with an azimuth thruster and with total power exceeding 5,000 horsepower to stand by near the Aquacharm around the clock.
The tugboat must be equipped for oil-spill response, firefighting, search and rescue, and manned by experienced crew members capable of handling emergencies.
The administration has also required the Aquacharm's captain and crew to ensure the vessel remains stable and safe, prepare onboard emergency equipment, maintain regular contact with authorities, and promptly report any developments that could threaten maritime safety, security or the environment.
S&A Maritime JSC, the vessel's shipping agent, has been tasked with coordinating with the authorities and urging the shipowner and captain to comply with the safety requirements and report the vessel's condition and response measures.
The measures are aimed at protecting the vessel and its crew, maintaining maritime safety in Dung Quat port waters and preventing environmental pollution.
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