A cargo ship and a small fishing boat collided off northern Vietnam on Friday, 30 October 2026. The fishing boat sank, and all six fishermen fell into the sea. Rescuers found all six. One fisherman had died, and the other five were injured.
The collision happened at about 10:42 local time, the provincial newspaper Báo Quảng Ninh reported. The place was about 2 nautical miles east of Long Chau Island. This sea area lies on the border between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
What happened
The cargo ship Arosa flies the flag of Liberia. It had 18 foreign crew on board. It was sailing from Singapore to Hon Gai port in Quang Ninh to unload cargo.
The fishing boat had the number HP 90880 TS and came from Hai Phong. Six fishermen were on board. After the collision, the boat sank, and all six men ended up in the water.
The rescue
The Border Guard of Quang Ninh led the rescue. Its post at Hon Gai port and its Squadron 2 sent boats. They worked with the Quang Ninh maritime port authority, the Quang Ninh pilots and Hon Gai port.
The local military command also sent its search and rescue team, the newspaper Thanh Niên reported. Police, fisheries inspectors and medical staff helped too. In total, 74 people, three speedboats, two ships and one military medical ship took part.
At about 13:00, the rescuers reached the scene and found all six fishermen. One man, aged 54, had died. Three men were badly injured, and two had light injuries, according to Thanh Niên and DTiNews.
The rescuers brought all of them ashore. The injured men went to the Quang Ninh general hospital for treatment.
What is not known yet
The cause of the collision is not known. The authorities said they are still checking how it happened. Crewboard will follow the story.
For bridge teams near fishing boats
These are general safety points, not findings from this case.
Small wooden fishing boats are often hard to see on radar. Keep a proper lookout by sight and by hearing. The COLREGs, the international rules to prevent collisions at sea, require this.
Near the coast and near ports, expect many fishing boats. Slow down to a safe speed so you have time to act.
Act early and clearly to avoid a close situation. A big alteration of course is easier for the other boat to see than many small ones.
If you are not sure what a fishing boat will do, use the sound signal for doubt: at least five short, quick blasts on the whistle. Call on VHF channel 16 if the boat may have a radio.
If a collision happens, stop if it is safe and look for people in the water. Report at once to the coast station or rescue centre. Helping people in danger at sea is a duty for every master.
Cover photo: A cargo ship at anchor in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh, in August 2018. Illustrative photo, not the Arosa. Photo: Christophe95, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).
Sources: Báo Quảng Ninh, 30 Oct 2026: Cứu nạn 6 thuyền viên sau vụ chìm tàu cá trên biển (Rescue of six crew after a fishing boat sank at sea), Thanh Niên, 30 Oct 2026: Tàu cá chìm sau va chạm với tàu hàng Liberia, 1 người chết (Fishing boat sinks after collision with Liberian cargo ship, one dead), DTiNews (Dân trí), 30 Oct 2026: Cargo ship collision sinks fishing boat off Haiphong, killing one.
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