Two Ships Collide Off Guangzhou, China; 2 Crew Members Missing

On the evening of October 25, a tragic maritime accident occurred off the coast of Guangzhou, China: two ships collided, resulting in the sinking of one of them, the Chinese cargo ship "Hai Li 5." This was reported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

The incident occurred on October 25, 2025, at approximately 20:00 Singapore time. The Singapore-flagged container ship "WAN HAI A17" and the Chinese "HAI LI 5" collided in the waters of Guangzhou. The collision was so strong that the Chinese ship did not last long and sank.

There were 15 crew members on board the sunken "Hai Li 5." Large-scale search and rescue operations were immediately launched by the Chinese authorities. Unfortunately, to date, it has not been possible to find two crew members, who are considered missing. The remaining 13 sailors were successfully rescued.

As for the other ship, the "WAN HAI A17," belonging to the "Wan Hai Lines" company, none of its 23 crew members were injured. The ship also did not sustain significant damage, but, as reported, it is "temporarily in port to assist with the investigation."

The Chinese authorities are continuing the search operations, deploying several coast guard ships and helicopters. At the same time, an investigation has been launched into the incident to determine the causes of the collision. According to Chinese media, "preliminary versions are being considered, such as a navigational error or a technical malfunction."

Representatives of the Guangdong Maritime Administration and the prosecutor's office are monitoring the course of the investigation. For security reasons, the area of the incident has been "temporarily closed to navigation" until law enforcement officers complete their work. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has also announced that it will conduct its own investigation and, if necessary, provide assistance to its Chinese colleagues.