Passenger Ship - Shipwreck Log

On the afternoon of March 28, the passenger ferry Jinxing III ran aground in the Philippine Sea off Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor, Taiwan. The Jinxing III had departed from Lanyu with 55 passengers and eight crew members bound for Houbihu in Pingtung County when strong winds caused the vessel to run aground in shallow water off the coast.

The Taiwanese Coast Guard deployed two patrol boats to the assist. The patrol boats assisted by local fishing vessels safely evacuated all the passengers to shore. There were no reports of injuries. Reports state the Jinxing III was refloated and safely towed back to the Kaiyuan Fishing Harbor. Authorities have not released the extent of damage or if any pollution was released from the incident.

Huvan

March 2, 2025 Paul Hancock

On the morning of March 2, the passenger vessel/speedboat Huvan capsized and sank in the Indian Ocean in the Maldives between ADh Dhigurah and Mahibadhoo. The speedboat was en route to Male from ADh Dhigurah with 3 crew and 45 passengers before it capsized and later sank. All passengers and crew were able to don life jackets and abandon ship into the water. Authorities were later alerted and dispatched an emergency response team to the area. All passengers and crew would be later rescued and safely transported to Dhigurah. There were no reports of injuries.

The cause of the incident was not reported. Authorities have announced there will be an investigation into the incident.

Ocean Pure 1

January 2, 2025 Paul Hancock

On the afternoon of December 31, 2024, the two-masted 34 meter long, 396 gt passenger ketch sailing vessel Ocean Pure 1 (MMSI: 525401533) caught fire in the Halmahera Sea while anchored off Waigeo Island, Indonesia. The fire started by an electrical short behind the dryer in the laundry room. The crew attempted to extinguish the blaze, but the fire had become uncontrollable. The vessel sent out a distress call and all the 18 crew and 10 passengers on board abandoned ship into the vessel’s lifeboats. The crew and passengers safely landed on the shore of Yefinat Island. One crew had sustained severe burns from the fire and was later evacuated by authorities to a hospital in Waisai.