Search and rescue operations are ongoing in South China Sea after the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Devon Bay sank in South China Sea.
The Devon Bay, a 56,095-dwt bulk carrier, 2013-built, had sunk in the South China Sea, while en route to Yangjiang, China.
According to the latest available information, 17 of the 21 crew members had reportedly been picked up, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
“The crew are no longer on the ship. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. At this point, 17 of the 21 crew members have reportedly been recovered, but two of them have passed away. Four crew members remain unaccounted for. There were no Singaporeans on board the vessel,” the MPA said in its statement, adding that it was informed on January 23 that the vessel had sunk in the South China Sea.
MPA said is in contact with the ship owner and relevant search and rescue authorities, and is providing support as required. The authority has also confirmed it will investigate the incident.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed two vessels and two aircraft to rescue the 21 Philippine crew from the Singaporean-flagged vessel that was en route to Yangjiang, China, when the maritime incident occurred.
“The PCG Command Center acquired information from the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that 10 of the 21 Filipino crew members were rescued by a passing China Coast Guard vessel,” it said on Friday, Jan. 23.
In accordance with PCG, the vessel’s last known position was recorded at approximately 141 nautical miles west of Sabangan Point, Agno Bay, Pangasinan, at around 8:30 p.m. on January 22. The PCG received a distress report that the vessel was listing at approximately 25 degrees.
In response to media queries, “K” Line Pte Ltd (KLPL), a Singapore-based subsidiary wholly owned by Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), confirmed that its vessel Devon Bay (IMO: 9622849) is the subject of an ongoing search and rescue operation after a distress call was issued from the vessel on the night of 22 January 2026, during the vessel’s passage to Yangjiang, China from Zamboanga, the Philippines.
The Philippines and China Coast Guards, and vessels in the vicinity, including the group’s fleet, are actively engaged in the ongoing response.
“K” Line said Friday 17 of the 21 crew members have been rescued, of which, two crew members have passed away. Efforts to locate and account for the remaining four crew members are continuing.
“We will continue to respond to the incident in coordination with the relevant parties. We will keep you updated of the situation. We express our deepest condolences to the crew members who lost their lives and heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families,” it said in its statement.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) emphasized that the humanitarian mission was conducted in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which obliges all states to require their ships to assist persons in distress at sea, including while on passage along other coastal states’ maritime zones or jurisdictions.
From its side, the Chinese ministry of National Defense stated on Friday that, “The China Coast Guard had rescued 17 Filipino crew members by 6 pm on January 23 after a cargo ship capsized in the South China Sea. Fifteen of those rescued were in stable condition, while two were confirmed dead.
“The China Coast Guard received a report at 1:34 am on Friday from the Sansha maritime search and rescue center in Hainan province that a foreign cargo ship had capsized about 55 nautical miles northwest of Huangyan Island.
“The vessel was carrying 21 Filipino crew members. The China Coast Guard immediately dispatched two ships to the area to conduct search and rescue operations. The China Coast Guard would continue rescue efforts in the waters where the incident occurred and is providing the rescued crew members with food, medical checkups and places to rest to ensure their safety.”
On Sunday, “K” Line issued a release mentioning that 15 crew members have been successfully rescued, but two crew members have passed on. Search and rescue operations for the four remaining crew members continue under the close co-ordination of the relevant maritime authorities.
“The rescued crew and their fallen crew members have been safely handed over to the Philippine Coast Guard, and arrangements are being made to support their onward return home,” the company said in its notice.
