Due to the impact of a typhoon, the MSC container ship Silvana VIII has been heavily grounded for nearly a month since July. The cause of the incident remains subject to an official investigation.
Built in 2006, the SILVANA VIII measures 332 meters in length and 43 meters in beam, with a capacity of 8,401 TEU. Reportedly, the vessel initially only listed to one side, but after several failed attempts to refloat it, the majority of the hull has now submerged, leaving only the bow and the forward section above the water.
According to AIS data, the vessel berthed at a shipyard in Zhoushan, China, on June 22; between July 11 and 12, it was driven aground by a typhoon in the waters near Daishan, part of the Zhoushan Archipelago.
With Severe Typhoon Dolphin—the 13th of the year—poised to make landfall, the difficulty of the rescue operation for the severely listing mega-vessel has increased further.
All 3,000 tons of fuel oil have been removed from the vessel, eliminating the risk of environmental pollution. However, the vessel has taken on water in multiple cargo holds and the engine room following a grounding incident. To prevent the vessel from shifting or causing secondary accidents due to the approaching Typhoon Dolphin, authorities may opt to scuttle the ship—intentionally sinking it to rest on the seabed—thereby mitigating the threat to nearby terminals and shipping channels.