Discover the Putuoshan: Ratings & Maritime News

On August 23, 2023, at 0900 LT, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Guandong and the Guangzhou Traffic Control Center faced a surge of distress calls as Typhoon Hato unleashed its fury across the Pearl River estuary and the waters surrounding Hong Kong. Four ships found themselves in peril: the tanker RAINBOW ISLAND with a crew of 23, the container ship HON CHUN with 30 crew members, the tanker GEM NO.8 with 15 crew members, and the coastal cargo vessels KAI SHUN YOU 7 and XIN HUA TAI. In response to the crisis, Search and Rescue (SAR) teams bravely ventured into the raging conditions to provide assistance to the beleaguered vessels and their crews. The RAINBOW ISLAND successfully evaded grounding with the aid of SAR ships and was subsequently escorted to outer anchorage. Fortunately, HON CHUN also emerged from the situation unscathed. However, the GEM NO.8 reportedly ran aground due to the tempest, alongside the coastal ships, which led to the evacuation of some crew members. This destructive weather event underscores the challenges faced by maritime operations during severe weather incidents.

In a significant maritime transaction, a vessel has been sold to Chinese interests for a remarkable $17.2 million. This deal marks a noteworthy event in the shipping industry, highlighting the continued interest of Chinese buyers in expanding their maritime assets.