Update: 05.10.2026
According to a recent press release by liner MSC, boxship MSC Hermes III has berthed at Vung Tau port following tug assistance, enabling cargo discharge, an investigation into the incident and subsequent repair work.
MSC confirmed that water entered the vessel’s engine room while it was at sea on 22 September. As a precautionary measure, the Master instructed the crew to leave the ship.
All personnel were transferred safely to another MSC vessel before returning to the MSC Hermes III after an assessment of its condition.
The latest update follows an incident in the South China Sea on 22 September, when the container ship issued a distress call linked to an unspecified emergency and remained adrift after the crew evacuation.
The vessel subsequently received tug support and arrived at Vung Tau on 24 September.
Original article: 23.09.2026
Containership MSC Hermes III remains afloat and unmanned in the South China Sea after all 25 crew members abandoned the vessel following a distress call on 22 September.
According to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the vessel issued a distress alert in the morning hours of Tuesday while sailing about 300 kilometres east of Vietnam.
At the time of the incident, the ship was travelling from Shanghai to Jakarta.
Singapore’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) broadcast a request for assistance to nearby vessels. Three ships responded, recovering all 25 crew members from a lifeboat after they left the ship.
Authorities in Singapore and MSC have not disclosed the cause of the emergency, and no confirmed announcement has been made regarding towage or salvage arrangements.
Additionally, there has been no official confirmation of reports suggesting the vessel experienced a fire.
MSC Hermes III is a 20-year-old containership with a capacity of 2,510 TEU. According to seaexplorer data, the ship is deployed on MSC's Intra-Asia SEAGULL service.
