On October 18, the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration reported a maritime incident involving a Panama-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Penglai. Thanks to the concerted efforts of various rescue teams, all 13 crew members were safely evacuated.
Around 1 PM on October 18, personnel from the Yantai Maritime Safety Administration observed signs that the vessel “HUA MEI DA” had started to drag anchor. They promptly instructed the crew to check their anchorage position and urged them to take necessary action to address the issue. However, the ship’s management assessed that anchoring in the current conditions would provide adequate safety and declined assistance to seek shelter in the port, providing a written explanation of their decision. Unfortunately, due to high winds, the vessel was unable to maintain its anchorage and began drifting towards the shore.
At approximately 6:30 PM that evening, the Yantai Maritime Search and Rescue Center received a report indicating that the “HUA MEI DA” had run aground in waters east of Penglai East Port and required immediate assistance.
In response, at 5:33 AM on October 19, the Beihai Rescue Bureau dispatched rescue helicopter “B7312” from Penglai. The helicopter successfully transferred all 13 crew members to safety around 6 AM on the same day.
As of now, the vessel remains grounded, but its condition is stable, with no signs of oil spill observed in the surrounding waters. The Yantai Maritime Search and Rescue Center will continue to monitor the situation and manage further recovery operations.
