MSC Silvana VIII Sinks After Grounding Near Zhoushan, China

The containership *MSC Silvana VIII *has sunk in the Zhoushan area of China after experiencing progressive flooding following a grounding shortly after leaving a ship repair yard on July 11. Several efforts to refloat the vessel have been unsuccessful, and it remains in the Zhoushan area.

The ship arrived at a repair yard in Zhoushan on June 22 after departing Gwangyang, South Korea. It spent 19 days at the facility before leaving on July 11.

Reports indicate that the vessel encountered difficulties while departing the repair berth. It subsequently ran aground amid severe weather conditions associated with Typhoon Bavi, resulting in an initial list and water ingress.

Several attempts were then made to refloat the vessel and tugs initially succeeded in pulling the ship free, but adverse weather conditions caused it to ground again at another location.

Flooding continued following the second grounding, and by early August, significant areas of the vessel, including the stern, engine room and several cargo holds, had filled with water. By August 6, a large section of the ship’s hull was submerged.

Approximately 3,000 tonnes of fuel have since been removed from the vessel in an effort to improve the prospects of another refloating operation. However, Typhoon Dolphin is forecast to make landfall near Zhoushan, Zhejiang and Fuding, potentially creating further challenges for recovery efforts.

The MSC Silvana VIII is a Cyprus-flagged containership built in 2006 and operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company. With the vessel having reached 20 years of service, it would have been due to undergo a special survey covering its hull, machinery and underwater areas.