On July 20th, 2023 at approximately 1009 local time (UTC 0209), the Palau-flagged container ship ANGEL (IMO No. 9256406), with a gross tonnage of 16145, was located about 2.8 nautical miles (5 km) from the south breakwater of the port of Kaohsiung when it lost power for unknown reasons. The hull was listed after flooding, and the Master of ANGEL declared abandonment of the ship. All 19 crew members on board were rescued, and the vessel later sank, hundreds of cargo containers fell into the sea and drifted. The prevention and control of oil pollution in this accident is in progress.

The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) has identified this event as a marine casualty according to the Transportation Occurrence Investigation Act and has referenced the Casualty Investigation Code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). An Investigator-In-Charge has been assigned, and an investigation team has been launched to conduct the investigation.

Further information on the progress of the occurrence investigation will be published on the TTSB website.

Vivi Yang, Secretariat Office

Tel: +886-2-7727-6217

E-mail: viviy2314@ttsb.gov.tw

Michael GUAN, Deputy Chief Investigator

Marine Occurrence Investigation Division

Tel: +886-2-7727-6202

E-mail: michael@ttsb.gov.tw