Barge Capsizes in Singapore Waters, 8 Missing

The Horsburgh Lighthouse is a lighthouse which marks the eastern entrance to the Straits of Singapore. Photo Credit.

Search and rescue (SAR) operations for 8 missing crewmembers of the capsized Mongolian-flagged barge Guo Liang 677 are ongoing.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been coordinating the SAR operations since receiving report of the incident at about 1300 hours (Singapore time) on 24 July 2013. The incident happened in Singapore waters about 7 nautical miles north of Horsburgh Lighthouse [pictured above].

One crewman was rescued yesterday by the Police Coast Guard (PCG); he is well and does not require medical attention. He has clarified that there were a total of 10 crew members, all Chinese nationals, onboard Guo Liang 677 (instead of the earlier reported 11). The Chinese Embassy in Singapore has been kept informed. The other crewmember rescued yesterday by a vessel in the vicinity was reported to have been brought to Malaysia.

The ongoing SAR operations has involved two Super Puma helicopters and a Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force, three patrol vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy, two PCG patrol craft, divers and two diving support vessels from Resolve Salvage & Fire (Asia) and 14 passing commercial vessels.