Efforts to Refloat the Container Ship “MSC Silvana VIII” Fail as It Remains Partially Submerged

The container ship “MSC Silvana VIII” (IMO 9309459), registered in Cyprus, has partially sunk off the coast of Daishan, near the Chinese port of Zhoushan, after suffering a severe list and subsequent flooding.

The vessel, built in 2006, had arrived in the Zhoushan ship repair area on June 22, coming from Gwangyang (South Korea). According to local media, it was undergoing maintenance when it began to partially sink due to Typhoon Bavi.

After the incident, various tugboats and support vessels participated in efforts to stabilize and refloat the container ship, without success. Despite the efforts of the port authorities, the ship has continued to sink further and remains with its stern and part of the hull underwater. Apparently, several holds and the engine room are flooded.

Being under repair and out of service, the “MSC Silvana VIII” was not carrying commercial cargo at the time of the accident, but it did have 3,000 tons of fuel, which has been removed as a precaution.

The exact causes of the incident and the extent of the structural damage have not yet been officially confirmed. It is expected that towing operations will be complicated by the arrival of Typhoon Dolphin, which will further hinder rescue efforts.

The ship, operated by MSC, measures 332 meters in length and has a capacity of 8,401 TEU.

Photo: Tuoi Tre