Breaking News: Strong Winds Force 23,000‑DWT Bulk Carrier to Drag Anchor and Run Aground
On the evening of November 9, 2026 local time, Vietnamese‑flagged bulk carrier VTA Neptune dragged its anchor and ran aground on an in‑shore beach in the waters of Chan May Bay near Hue, central Vietnam amid strong winds. All 20 crew members on board are safe. The vessel lists slightly to port. Local maritime authorities have ordered the ship‑owner to draw up a refloating plan. No hull damage or fuel oil leakage has been reported so far.
Source: Xinde Maritime Safety
The accident took place at around 20:30 on November 9. According to notifications from the Thua Thien‑Hue Maritime Administration and local military authorities, the VTA Neptune was sailing in ballast condition. It had departed from Vung Tau Port and was bound for Chan May Port for cargo loading. Affected by the northeast monsoon, winds of force 6‑7 prevailed in the accident area, with gusts reaching force 8‑9. Heavy seas coupled with strong winds disabled the anchoring system. The vessel dragged anchor and drifted out of control until it washed ashore.
The bulk carrier finally grounded on the beach at Duong Duong Village, approximately 2.75 nautical miles southwest of Channel Buoy No.0 in the Chan May waterway, at coordinates 16°20′38″N, 107°57′06″E. The grounding site is close to the beach of the local Laguna Resort and adjacent to Vinh Loc commune waters.
The VTA Neptune is a bulk carrier flying the Vietnamese national flag, with IMO number 9168752. Its ship‑owner is Vietnam VTA Import‑Export Co., Ltd. The ship measures 150.52 metres in overall length and 26 metres in breadth. It has a deadweight tonnage of 23,620 DWT and a gross tonnage of 14,446 GT, classifying it as a medium‑sized ocean‑going bulk carrier.
The ship was in ballast at the time of the incident with 20 crew members aboard. Verified by local authorities, there were no casualties and all crew are in stable condition. Resting on a sandy seabed after grounding, the vessel’s bow points to about 123 degrees with a port list of roughly 2 degrees. The crew have dropped both anchors to secure position and prevent further drifting.
On‑site inspection results as of the morning of November 10 show that the grounding location lies outside the main navigation channel of Chan May Port and has not disrupted regular shipping traffic in surrounding waters.
Maritime authority data indicates the vessel carried 51.82 tonnes of diesel oil (DO) and 211.81 tonnes of fuel oil (FO) on scene, with total fuel reserves exceeding 263 tonnes.
The Thua Thien‑Hue Maritime Bureau immediately instructed the ship‑owner to conduct comprehensive inspections of the hull shell, ballast tanks and fuel tanks to identify potential structural failure and oil‑spill risks.
As of press time, no marine pollution from oil spills has been documented.
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