Fourteen crew members are missing after a sand-carrier barge ‘Oceanline SC208’ capsized offshore Singapore yesterday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) informs.

At around 10.00 am, the MPA was alerted that a Bolivian-registered vessel had capsized 7.5 nautical miles north-east of Pedra Branca in Singapore waters.

According to the vessel’s agent, there were 15 crew members onboard at the time of the incident. A Chinese national was reportedly rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. Other fourteen people, reported to be onboard the vessel, are still unaccounted for. According to MPA, one is a Malaysian and the rest are Chinese nationals.

Two vessels were deployed immediately by MPA. Singapore is coordinating the search and rescue (SAR) operations which involves vessels from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSS Daring and RSS Fearless), the Singapore Police Coast Guard and several Malaysian vessels. MPA has also engaged salvage companies to conduct salvage operations.

Navigational broadcasts have been made to vessels in the vicinity to keep clear of the SAR area and to report any sightings of the missing persons.

MPA said it’s investigating the incident.