The oil tanker Sunrise 689, which once reportedly lost contact after leaving Singapore for Vietnam on October 2, are now being investigated, right after it was led to Vung Tau coast in southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in the early morning of October 11.

The Vietnam Maritime Police Zone 3 in collaboration with the border guard, police and the People’s Procuracy of the province are responsible for the case.

Initial investigation shows that marine equipment inside the ship’s cabin was seriously destroyed with other furnishings scattered over the place.

Crew members will be asked for further information, said Le Xuan Thanh, Commander of the Vietnam Maritime Police Zone 3 High Command.

After the investigation ends, Sunrise 689 will be anchored at Sao Mai-Ben Dinh area in the Vung Tau waters for equipment repairs before heading to Cua Viet Port in the central province of Quang Tri, according to Nguyen Nhat, head of the Vietnam Maritime Administration.

The same day, representatives from the Vietnam Maritime Administration and local authorities visited the ship’s crew members.

The ship Sunrise 689 of the Hai Phong Seafood Shipbuilding Joint Stock Company with 18 crew members left Singapore’s Horizon port at 5:40pm on October 2 for Vietnam, carrying over 5,200 tonnes of oil. However, the company lost contact with the ship only 40 minutes after its departure.

Initial reports said Sunrise 689 was attacked by pirates. Nearly one-third of the oil it carried was robbed while two members of the crew were injured.

VNA/VNN