Update: Tanker broke in two, at least two other ships were pushed aground, but no detailed information yet available. See photos.
MRCC Guandong and Guangzhou, Guangzhou Traffic Control Center were overwhelmed with distress signals starting 0900 LT Aug 23, as typhoon Hato battered Pearl river estuary and Hong Kong waters. Four vessels reported being in trouble: tanker RAINBOW ISLAND with 23 crew on board; container ship HON CHUN with 30 crew on board; tanker GEM NO.8 with 15 crew on board; coastal cargo ships KAI SHUN YOU 7 and XIN HUA TAI. SAR ships and boats went into the gale to assist distressed vessels and crews. RAINBOW ISLAND understood to avoid grounding with the help of SAR ships, and taken to outer anchorage. HON CHUN is also said to be out of trouble, GEM NO.8 understood to be grounded by typhoon, as well as coastal ships. some crews were evacuated.
More ships were mentioned as troubled besides those four, but no other information is yet available.
Cargo ship KAI SHUN YOU 7, MMSI 413444170, length 97 meters, flag China.
Cargo ship XIN HUA TAI, MMSI 413701730, length 141 meter, flag China.
