The MEI CHENG 866, a Chinese-flagged containership, ran aground and sank in the early hours of July 4, 2019, after being caught in a storm in the Gulf of Tonkin, according to reports.
The vessel encountered the typhoon ‘Mu-En’ at approximately 02:00 and was forced to run aground before all eight crewmembers were successfully evacuated.
A tug was sent along to assist the vessel, however, the weather conditions made any salvage impossible as the vessel began to sink.
Further, but as of yet unsubstantiated, reports suggest that the vessel was carrying approximately 100 vessels at the time. It remains unclear what cargo it was carrying.
In March 2019, the Grande America, a general cargo ship, sank after it caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean with hundred thousands of sports cars bound for Brazil on board.
