Wrecks & obstructions in the South China Sea

Dangerous wrecks, shoals and submerged obstructions.

in force
5
last 12 months
2
vs previous 12 (1)
+100%
since 1998
155

Coverage note: the NGA archive ends 2024-05 and live collection began 2026-08-17. Warnings issued in between are here only if they were still in force when collection started, so 2024–2026 are under-counted.

In force now · 5

  1. HYDROPAC 2412/25in force2025-09-19
    Dangerous wreck in South China Sea off Vietnam at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  2. NAVAREA XI 437/25in force2025-09-19
    Sunken wreck exists in northern South China Sea at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
    South China Sea, Northern Part
  3. NAVAREA XI 153/20in force2020-04-06
    A yellow observation buoy is reported at 19-20.6N 113-45.9E in the northern South China Sea on 04 Apr.
    South China Sea, Northern Part
  4. NAVAREA XI 664/19in force2019-11-21
    An oil rig is reported to exist in the southern South China Sea at 07-42.1N 107-55.8E.
    South China Sea, Southern Part
  5. NAVAREA XI 132/19in force2019-03-07
    An oil rig is reported at 07-47.5N 108-12.0E in the southern South China Sea, and previous warnings are cancelled.
    South China Sea, Southern Part

Longest in force

  1. NAVAREA XI 132/19in force2019-03-07 · 2,725 d
    An oil rig is reported at 07-47.5N 108-12.0E in the southern South China Sea, and previous warnings are cancelled.
    South China Sea, Southern Part
  2. NAVAREA XI 664/19in force2019-11-21 · 2,466 d
    An oil rig is reported to exist in the southern South China Sea at 07-42.1N 107-55.8E.
    South China Sea, Southern Part
  3. NAVAREA XI 153/20in force2020-04-06 · 2,329 d
    A yellow observation buoy is reported at 19-20.6N 113-45.9E in the northern South China Sea on 04 Apr.
    South China Sea, Northern Part
  4. NAVAREA XI 437/25in force2025-09-19 · 337 d
    Sunken wreck exists in northern South China Sea at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
    South China Sea, Northern Part
  5. HYDROPAC 2412/25in force2025-09-19 · 337 d
    Dangerous wreck in South China Sea off Vietnam at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
    South China Sea · Vietnam

By year

98
99
00
01
02
04
05
06
07
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25

By month (all years)

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Other hazards in the South China Sea

Archive · 150 cancelled

  1. HYDROPAC 3438/242024-11-05 → 2025-12-04
    Nine meter shoal reported in 09-46.16N 117-58.03E
    South China Sea · Philippines
  2. HYDROPAC 805/242024-03-11 → 2024-03-11
    F/V sank in 09-32.06N 110-18.43E
    South China Sea
  3. HYDROPAC 3181/222022-11-10 → 2022-11-11
    Vessel sank in 08-14.00N 110-03.00E on 10 nov
    South China Sea
  4. HYDROPAC 2873/212021-10-08 → 2022-12-02
    F/V bt 98398 ts sank due to collision with M/V bishu maru in 06-30N 107-25E at 080830Z oct
    South China Sea
  5. HYDROPAC 93/212021-01-09 → 2021-01-09
    F/V py 96977 ts sank in 11-55N 113-50E at 090135Z jan
    South China Sea
  6. HYDROPAC 748/202020-03-05 → 2020-03-05
    Vessel duc minh 555 sank in 18-11.8N 106-16.4E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  7. HYDROPAC 373/202020-02-04 → 2020-02-04
    F/V TH90183 ts, sank in 19-26N 106-23E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  8. HYDROPAC 372/202020-02-04 → 2020-02-04
    F/V sank in vicinity 19-00N 106-00E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  9. HYDROPAC 80/202020-01-06 → 2020-01-10
    Dangerous wreck in 16-08.64N 108-13.82E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  10. HYDROPAC 4295/192019-12-30 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 17-59N 106-32E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  11. HYDROPAC 4182/192019-12-17 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 10-29.53N 107-49.64E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  12. HYDROPAC 4173/192019-12-16 → 2020-04-24
    Dangerous wreck in 10-24.84N 107-02.39E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  13. HYDROPAC 4011/192019-12-04 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 13-45.37N 109-21.68E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  14. HYDROPAC 3953/192019-11-30 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 09-41.95N 106-43.59E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  15. HYDROPAC 3950/192019-11-30 → 2019-12-02
    M/V toan phat 68 sank in 13-45.37N 109-21.68E at 300345Z nov
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  16. HYDROPAC 3924/192019-11-28 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 18-07.96N 106-26.66E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  17. HYDROPAC 3662/192019-11-06 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 14-49N 109-01E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  18. HYDROPAC 3629/192019-11-03 → 2022-03-18
    Dangerous wreck in 18-07.61N 106-29.26E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  19. HYDROPAC 3575/192019-10-30 → 2022-03-18
    Dangerous wreck in 02-28S 109-26E
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  20. HYDROPAC 3192/192019-09-27 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 10-27.14N 107-44.99E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  21. HYDROPAC 3180/192019-09-26 → 2019-09-27
    M/V viet dung 36 sank in 10-27.14N 107-44.99E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  22. HYDROPAC 2995/192019-09-12 → 2020-02-21
    Dangerous wreck in 17-42.85N 106-30.39E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  23. HYDROPAC 2863/192019-08-31 → 2021-09-25
    Underwater obstruction in 24-07N 119-55E
    Taiwan Strait · Taiwan
  24. HYDROPAC 2693/192019-08-20 → 2019-10-25
    Dangerous wreck, least depth 0.9 meters, in 10-29.53N 107-49.64E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  25. HYDROPAC 2449/192019-07-31 → 2019-08-16
    Vessel km sinar harapan aground in 01-52S 107-55E at 302100Z jul
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  26. HYDROPAC 2446/192019-07-31 → 2019-08-16
    Vessel kn sinar harapan, aground and taking on water in vicinity 01-52N 107-55E at 302100Z jul
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  27. HYDROPAC 2343/192019-07-20 → 2021-07-16
    Dangerous wreck in 19-32.33N 107-42.27E
    Gulf of Tonkin · China
  28. HYDROPAC 2224/192019-07-09 → 2020-07-24
    Dangerous wreck in 10-31.25N 108-28.73E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  29. HYDROPAC 2041/192019-06-22 → 2022-03-18
    Dangerous wreck in 20-42.3N 107-05.5E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  30. HYDROPAC 1573/192019-05-09 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 20-13.42N 106-50.13E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  31. HYDROPAC 1562/192019-05-09 → 2019-05-09
    Vessel phuong nam 09 sank in 20-13N 106-50E at 082345Z may
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  32. HYDROPAC 1392/192019-04-25 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 20-12.10N 107-04.79E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  33. HYDROPAC 1391/192019-04-25 → 2019-10-18
    Dangerous wreck in 20-43.41N 106-59.90E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  34. HYDROPAC 852/192019-03-14 → 2019-03-15
    Dangerous wreck in 21-24.08N 108-02.70E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  35. HYDROPAC 727/192019-03-04 → 2019-03-06
    Dangerous wreck in 10-16.55N 107-08.10E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  36. HYDROPAC 593/192019-02-21 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 09-14.33N 106-59.00E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  37. HYDROPAC 584/192019-02-21 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 02-35.2S 109-14.6E
    South China Sea
  38. HYDROPAC 559/192019-02-17 → 2022-03-18
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 20-35.49N 107-00.30E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  39. HYDROPAC 506/192019-02-14 → 2019-02-18
    Dangerous wreck in 01-20.3N 104-21.4E
    Singapore Strait · Malaysia
  40. HYDROPAC 251/192019-01-23 → 2019-03-22
    Dangerous wreck in 21-24.08N 108-02.70E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  41. HYDROPAC 250/192019-01-23 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 17-50.83N 106-35.05E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  42. HYDROPAC 154/192019-01-15 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 10-19.51N 107-07.19E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  43. HYDROPAC 106/192019-01-11 → 2020-01-17
    Dangerous wreck in 17-08.7N 107-19.6E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  44. HYDROPAC 98/192019-01-10 → 2019-10-18
    Dangerous wreck in 09-14.33N 106-59.00E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  45. HYDROPAC 68/192019-01-07 → 2020-07-10
    Dangerous wreck in 20-56.68N 107-04.06E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  46. HYDROPAC 4530/182018-12-20 → 2019-01-11
    Dangerous wreck in 09-14.33N 106-59.00E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  47. HYDROPAC 4115/182018-11-14 → 2019-03-22
    Dangerous wreck in 20-42.30N 107-05.53E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  48. HYDROPAC 3871/182018-10-25 → 2019-01-04
    Dangerous wreck in 20-39.5N 107-05E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  49. HYDROPAC 3619/182018-10-03 → 2018-10-05
    Dangerous wreck in 22-46.0N 119-09.6E
    Taiwan Strait · Taiwan
  50. HYDROPAC 3568/182018-09-28 → 2019-03-22
    16.4 meter shoal reported in 01-05.6N 104-09.8E
    South China Sea · Indonesia

Sea boundaries: Flanders Marine Institute (2018), IHO Sea Areas v3, marineregions.org (CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation — follow official NAVAREA / coastal broadcasts and your national MSI service.

Wrecks & obstructions in the South China Sea · seahazards