HCM CITY — Officials of the Ministry of Transport, the HCM City People's Committee and concerned organisations on Sunday are examining the oil leaking prevention work after a container ship sank in Cần Giờ District.

Vietnamese-flagged container ship VIETSUN INTEGRITY sank in Cần Giờ District’s Lòng Tàu River at around 1.50am on Saturday, but there were no casualties.

The ship, around 132 metres long and with deadweight tonnage of more than 8,000 tonnes, was carrying around 290 containers when it went down.

On Friday, the captain notified the vessel traffic service centre of an engine malfunction, which caused it to list, a nautical term for leaning or tilting.

One container fell overboard, the vessel continued to list and the crew lost control of the boat and it sank on Saturday morning.

The 17 crew members jumped into the water and were safely rescued.

Nguyễn Xuân Sang, director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, said buoys were put around the sank ship to prevent oil leaking. A little of oil was leaked out of the ship, and was already collected. Divers were ready to take all of oil in the ship out.

Rescue workers prepared ships and cranes to collect containers floating on the water.

The ship, owned by Vietsun Corporation, was traveling from HCM City to Hải Phòng.

Permanent Deputy Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee Lê Thanh Liêm said the committee instructed the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment to take water samples in the affected areas for tests. The department must prepare treatment measures if any sample was tested to be unsafe.

Minister of Transport Nguyễn Văn Thể asked concerned organisations to collect all floating containers on the river to ensure waterway traffic safety, and investigate for reasons of the case.

The area between the Đồng Tranh – Lòng Tàu river intersection and Cambodia’s Four Faces River has been restricted to vessels.

Those travelling between HCM City and Vũng Tàu City have been told to follow the administration’s instructions for alternative routes and those of the officials at the accident site. — VNS