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Accidents

Asiatic Sun (2021)

The Singapore-flagged container ship Asiatic Sun struck Pier 8A at the Port of Taichung while attempting to dock in strong winds and sustained severe bow damage. The available account reports no casualties.

Classification

  • Incident Type: Allision
  • Severity: Medium

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NameAsiatic Sun
Vessel TypeContainer
Flag StateSingapore [SG]
IMO Number
Gross Tonnage9610
LOA (m)143
TEU1,049
Year Built2008

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2021-12-26
LocationPort of Taichung, Pier 8A, Taiwan
Coordinates24.3043, 120.6027
RegionTaiwan
Fatalities
Injuries
Missing
Direct DamageThe vessel's bow sustained severe damage after striking Pier 8A.
Economic Damage

Key facts

  • Asiatic Sun was attempting to dock at the Port of Taichung on 26 December 2021.
  • Taichung Port authorities said the vessel struck Pier 8A at about 07:33 local time.
  • The Singapore-flagged vessel was reported as 143 metres long, with a gross tonnage of 9,610 and capacity of 1,049 TEU.
  • The vessel's bow appeared to be severely damaged.
  • Strong winds were reported as a factor, and the Maritime Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transport and Communications initiated an investigation.

Narrative

At about 07:33 local time on 26 December 2021, the Singapore-flagged container ship Asiatic Sun struck Pier 8A while attempting to dock at the Port of Taichung, Taiwan. Taiwan English News reported that Taichung Port authorities provided the time and location of the allision. The same account described the vessel as 143 metres long, with a gross tonnage of 9,610 and capacity of 1,049 TEU.

Photographs published with the account showed severe damage to the bow after the impact. Strong winds were reported as a factor in the accident, but the available source does not establish that weather was the sole or confirmed cause. The Maritime Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transport and Communications initiated an investigation.

The available account does not report casualties. It does not provide a detailed damage assessment, repair outcome, economic loss, or final investigation findings. Coordinates and a casualty count for missing persons are not established by the reviewed source.

Contributing factors

FactorEvidence status
Strong windsReported by the available account as a factor; not a confirmed sole cause.

Investigation

The Maritime Port Bureau of the Ministry of Transport and Communications initiated an investigation. No final findings or confirmed causal determination are provided in the reviewed account.

References