A Vietnamese cargo ship involved in island-building activities near the contested Spratly Islands sank on Saturday in the South China Sea, leaving 15 sailors missing as rescue operations continue. The vessel, Khoi Nguyen 18, was carrying 62 crew members when it began taking on water and sank near the reefs, which are claimed by multiple countries including Vietnam and China.
The incident occurred in an area situated between Fiery Cross Reef, controlled by China, and Discovery Great Reef, controlled by Vietnam, both part of the Spratly archipelago. These reefs have been focal points of sovereignty disputes, with both China and Vietnam engaging in land reclamation and construction of military installations to assert territorial claims.
According to Vietnamese officials familiar with the ship’s mission, the Khoi Nguyen 18 was engaged in island-building projects designed to reinforce Vietnam’s presence in the area. The vessel operated regularly between Cam Ranh, home to a major Vietnamese naval port, and the Spratly Islands. Authorities have attributed the sinking to adverse weather conditions but have not disclosed the ship’s precise cargo or destination.
The search for survivors was initiated after a distress signal from a life raft was detected by a Chinese rescue vessel on Saturday evening. By Monday, 47 crew members had been rescued, according to Lin Jian, spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry. Rescue efforts have involved personnel from Vietnam, China, and the Philippines working together in the maritime region. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude for China’s rapid response to the emergency and emphasized ongoing cooperation.
The Khoi Nguyen 18, built in 2017 and approximately 230 feet long with a carrying capacity near 1,900 metric tons, had not transmitted automatic identification system (AIS) data for several months, despite international maritime safety regulations requiring continuous tracking for large vessels. The ship is registered to Khoi Nguyen Trading, Import-Export and Transportation Company, and was reportedly assigned to a high-priority island reclamation project managed by Dacinco Construction Investment Company, based in Da Nang. Dacinco has acquired specialized dredging equipment from a Dutch shipbuilder to support land reclamation efforts on reefs including Namyit Island, Pearson Reef, and Barque Canada Reef.
China and Vietnam have long protested each other’s island-building operations, with the United States previously calling for de-escalation in the region. Last year, China condemned Vietnam’s expansion as an “illegal occupation” while Vietnam lodged similar accusations regarding China’s activities focused more heavily on the Paracel Islands, another contested group.
Despite these ongoing geopolitical tensions, the tragic incident has prompted collaboration between rival claimants in the search and rescue response. Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang acknowledged the joint efforts and expressed hope for continued partnership in locating the missing sailors.