At least two crew members remain missing after the dry bulk carrier Changxin 198 capsized and sank off the western coast of Hainan Island in the Gulf of Tonkin, Chinese maritime authorities reported.
The Panama-registered vessel was carrying a general dry bulk cargo when it encountered strong winds and rough sea conditions with waves up to 2.5 m high, leading to rapid loss of stability. Bulker developed a severe list and capsized on 31 January 2026. The incident unfolded roughly off Basuo Port in Hainan’s vicinity
The 6-person crew had issued a distress alert prior to the capsizing, but conditions deteriorated quickly, leaving little time for ordered abandon ship procedures. Seafarers were thrown into the water as the vessel overturned. Rescue units reached the scene within hours, but ongoing bad weather and strong currents have complicated the search for the missing.
However, rescuers managed to recover four crew members alive from the water and transfer them ashore for medical evaluation. The remaining two crew members have not been located and are still considered missing amid continuing search efforts.
The four rescued mariners were reportedly in a stable condition, treated for minor injuries.
Preliminary assessments by maritime analysts suggest that cargo shift during rough seas may have contributed to the vessel’s sudden instability, a known hazard in bulk carriers when cargo is inadequately trimmed or secured.
