A fire outbreak on a foreign cargo vessel at a state-owned shipyard in Qingdao, China, has tragically claimed the lives of at least 20 individuals, with five individuals still unaccounted for. The incident occurred during repair and inspection operations at the Qingdao Beihai shipyard around 11:15 a.m. local time.
Among the 42 individuals on board, 12 were safely evacuated, while five sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals for treatment. The fire was successfully extinguished by early afternoon, as reported by Chinese state media.
Following the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged for intensified search and rescue missions, prompt investigation procedures, and the implementation of accountability measures. An image released by Xinhua depicted the vessel involved in the tragedy as the Ocean Melody, a 20-year-old dry bulk carrier flying the flag of Liberia. The ship is managed by Yuyangkunpeng Shanghai Shp Mgm, with Huili Shipping Co Ltd listed as its registered owner.
According to data from LSEG ship-tracking, the Ocean Melody arrived at the Qingdao shipyard on August 31 and has been stationed there since. The shipyard is overseen by the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), renowned as one of the world’s leading shipbuilders.
CSSC is recognized as China’s primary naval shipbuilder and the largest developer and constructor of ships and offshore equipment in the country.