2 dead, 4 missing after S'pore-flagged ship sinks in South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal

Two seafarers were found dead, and four are still missing after a Singapore-registered bulk carrier sank in the South China Sea while en route from Gutalac, Philippines, to Yangjiang in Guangdong, China.

On Jan. 21, at around 10:03pm, the cargo vessel named Devon Bay capsized near the Scarborough Shoal while carrying 21 Filipino crew members and a cargo of iron ore, according to TradeWinds.

In a media release dated Jan. 23, the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) stated that search and rescue operations are ongoing and that there were no Singaporeans onboard.

MPA stated that it will be investigating the incident.

"As the vessel’s Flag State, MPA is in contact with the ship owner and relevant search and rescue authorities, and is providing support as required."

China & Philippines launched joint rescue efforts

According to a Facebook post by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, China's Coast Guard first received the report of the capsized vessel on Jan. 23 at around 1:34am.

In an update, the embassy stated that as of 12:30pm, 14 people were in stable condition, while one person remains under emergency medical treatment

"Military aircraft were deployed to conduct continuous aerial searches over the incident area, while two nearby China Coast Guard vessels were ordered to proceed immediately to the scene for rescue work."

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) also stated on Facebook that it deployed two vessels and two aircraft to rescue its citizens.

"The PCG received a distress report that the vessel was already listing at approximately 25 degrees."

The PCG also noted that 10 of the 21 crew members were saved by a passing China Coast Guard vessel and asserted that the "last known position of the distress vessel is within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone".

"The humanitarian mission was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which obliges all states to require their ships to assist persons in distress at sea, including while on passage along other coastal states’ maritime zones or jurisdictions."

Scarborough Shoal

The distressed vessel sank in the Scarborough Shoal, which is within one of Asia's most hotly contested maritime areas.

Prior skirmishes along the shoal have become diplomatic issues as both China and the Philippines claim sole ownership.

The shoal is 220km and 800km away from the coasts of the Philippines and China, respectively.

China has staked a claim over 90 per cent of the South China Sea under their controversial nine-dash line, which overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.

The nine dashes became 10 after China released a new map in 2023, extending its stake to the east of Taiwan.

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Top photo from the Chinese Embassy in Manila/Facebook