The Chinese 1,600 dwt-bulk carrier E Tuan Feng Huo 226 sank during loading operations at a terminal of Wuhan Port along the Yangtze River on July 17.
A fracture in the middle part of the cargo vessel caused a massive water ingress and the sinking of the vessel.
Image: simic.net.cn
At the time of the incident there were three crew members, who managed to escape the vessel safely ashore.
The ferry service from Wuhan has been suspended because the sunken ship has blocked the ferry’s navigation channel.
The local marine authorities have started an investigation of the incident to find out what caused the hull crack, while the cargo loading.
Salvage teams are working on the scene for the removal of the shipwreck from the port in order to resume the ferry service and the cargo operations at the terminal.
The E Tuan Feng Huo 226 is a small bulk carrier, built in 1999 and operating as coastal freighter in Yangtze River. The ship has overall length of 64.00 m, moulded beam of 10.00 m and maximum draft of 4.50 m. The deadweight of the bulker is 1,600 DWT.