MSC Confirms Water Ingress Forced Hermes III Evacuation | Mariner News
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has confirmed that water ingress in the engine room prompted the precautionary evacuation of its container vessel, MSC Hermes III, off Vietnam on September 22. The clarification comes over a week after the incident, providing critical detail on the operational challenge faced.
The initial incident saw the master order the abandonment of the 38,193 dwt vessel approximately 186 miles east of Vietnam. All 25 crewmembers were safely transferred to another MSC container vessel. Following an assessment of the situation, the crew subsequently returned to the ship on an unspecified date, with tugs dispatched to assist the drifting containership.
Currently, MSC Hermes III remains berthed in Vung Tau, where MSC reports an incident investigation, necessary repairs, and cargo discharge are underway. This extended port call signals significant operational disruption for the 2006-built vessel, impacting its planned itinerary and cargo delivery timelines beyond the initial emergency. The company’s online system shows the vessel scheduled to depart Vung Tau on October 3, bound for Singapore and then Hong Kong.
Adding to the complexities, Vietnamese authorities conducted a medical evacuation on September 28 after a crewmember sustained a head injury from a fall while the vessel was approaching Vung Tau port. MSC states the crewmember is “recovering well.”
The confirmation of engine room water ingress underscores the severity of the initial emergency that led to the vessel abandonment. The sequence of abandonment, crew return, and the subsequent prolonged period for investigation, repairs, and cargo discharge in port highlights the extensive operational impact and the resources required to stabilize and return a vessel to service following such an incident.
