Bulk Carrier Sinks off Vietnam, 18 Missing

Bulk Jupiter departed Kuantan, Malaysia on December 30, 2014 at around 20:00 hours local time, with 19 crewmembers, all Filipinos, on board and about 46,400 mts of Bauxite in bulk, stowed in all five of her cargo holds. 

Repeated attempts to contact the vessel on all communication channels were unsuccessful.

The Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediately initiated a search and rescue operation. One lifeboat and a life raft, both empty, from Bulk Jupiter have been observed by M/V Zim Asia in the vicinity.

The tug boat, M/V OLNG Muttrah, has picked up one surviving crewmember in the area. It is now confirmed Bulk Jupiter, capsized and sank about 150 NM off the Vietnamese coast.

The search and rescue operation, lead by Singapre MRCC, continues and is being stepped up.

In a statement, the ship's owner, Gearbulk, said: "We will use this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their help and support in this difficult situation. Our thoughts are with the crew and their families."