Ocean Researcher V


Ocean Researcher V sunk on the evening of 10 October 2014 off the coast of Penghu, Taiwan.

Background

The ship was operated by the Taiwan Ocean Research Institute, part of the National Applied Research Laboratories under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It cost NT$1.46 billion and weighted 2,700 tons with a maximum speed of 12 knots. The ship's dimensions were 72.6 metres in length and 15.4 metres in width. The vessel was built in Taiwan and first commissioned in August 2012.

Chronology

The ship departed on 9 October 2014 from Anping Harbor in Anping District, Tainan for an eight-day cruise researching pollutants in the atmosphere and how they propagate. Those aboard included researchers from the Academia Sinica, Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute, graduate students from National Taiwan Ocean University, National Yang Ming University, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology and National Cheng Kung University.
On the evening of 10 October 2014, due to Typhoon Vongfong, the ship ran onto a reef off the Penghu Islands, stranding all on board when the ship listed and began to take in water, sinking at 8:11 pm. Most of the occupants boarded life-rafts to await rescue.

Rescue operations

Eight rescue helicopters, two C-130 transport planes, four navy frigates and five patrol boats were sent to the accident scene.

Casualties

One researcher was pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital and another died when attempts to resuscitate him failed. They were identified as Hsu Shih-chieh and Lin Yi-chun.