A China Coast Guard ship navigating near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, on Aug 13, 2025. - Reuters
BEIJING: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is investigating the sinking of bulk carrier Devon Bay in the South China Sea on Jan 23, which left two crew members dead.
There were no Singaporeans on board the Singapore-flagged ship, and four crew members remain unaccounted for, MPA said in a statement to The Straits Times on Jan 23.
Bulk carrier Devon Bay, which was built in 2013 and registered in Singapore, had sunk while en route to Yangjiang, China.
According to the latest available information, 17 of the 21 crew members have reportedly been recovered, said MPA.
China and the Philippines said on Jan 23 they launched rescue operations after receiving reports of a distressed cargo ship near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, carrying 21 Filipino crew members.
As Singapore is the vessel’s flag state, MPA said it is in contact with the ship owner and relevant search and rescue authorities, and is providing support as required.
The Chinese military said 17 crew members were rescued and two of them later died, after a report at around 1.30am on Jan 23 that a foreign cargo vessel had capsized in waters near the shoal.
It dispatched aircraft to conduct searches, and the Chinese Coast Guard sent two vessels for rescue efforts.
One person was receiving emergency medical treatment, it said, adding that China’s maritime authorities were organising additional rescue forces to head to the area.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it deployed two vessels and two aircraft to rescue the Philippine crew from the Singaporean-flagged MV Devon Bay loaded with iron ore that was en route to the southern Chinese city of Yangjiang.
“The PCG Command Centre acquired information from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 Filipino crew members were rescued by a passing China Coast Guard vessel,” it said, adding that it received a distressed report that the ship was already listing at about 25 degrees.
The PCG said the ship’s last known location was 141 nautical miles west of Ango Bay, in the northern Philippine province of Pangasinan.
In response to media queries, K Line, the shipping agency operating bulk carrier Devon Bay, expressed its condolences to the family members and loved ones of the two crew members who died, and was working to contact the families of crew members to provide necessary support.
It added that it has activated its emergency response team and remains in close contact with the relevant authorities and stakeholders, amid ongoing efforts to find the four missing crew members.
K Line also said vessels near the stricken ship, including those from its fleet, have either arrived or are going to the area to help with search and rescue efforts.
Scarborough Shoal is one of Asia’s most contested maritime features and a frequent flashpoint in disputes over sovereignty and fishing rights.
On Jan 20, the Chinese military said it organised naval and air force units to drive away a Philippine government aircraft that it accused of “illegally intruding” into airspace over the atoll.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. - Reuters
