On June 5, a severe storm struck the area around Haikou, China. The storm unleashed strong winds which caused the 130 meter long passenger ship Hai Kou Jiu Hao to run aground off Hainan Island while the 106 meter long Yin Zi Jing allided with a nearby beacon. No further details reported.
Rescue efforts continue on the overturn cruise ship Eastern Star that sank one day earlier. Some 1,000 police, 110 vessels and over 175 divers are involved in the search and rescue operations. The total rescued reached 14 as a few survivors were found trapped within the hull.
Reports say divers found a 21 year old man trapped in a small compartment who was able to use dive equipment to swim out the vessel. Rescuers cut a hole after hearing tapping inside the hull and rescued a 65 year old woman. Another person was found downstream after he had escaped out a window when the Eastern Star capsized. He had grabbed a life vest and floated some 10 hours down the river before being spotted by rescuers.
On May 30, the 193 meter long, 29980 dwt cargo vessel Rickmers Hamburg collided with the self-propelled barge Jiang Shun 1318 in the Bohai Sea off Tianjin, China. The Rickmers Hamburg was departing from Tianjin bound for Kobe, Japan when it struck the aft section of the Jiang Shun 1318. The barge partially sank as the stern flooded. One crewman was missing and another perished on the Jiang Shun. Authorities ordered the Rickmers Hamburg to an anchorage off Tianjin while an investigation is conducted.