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 3332/182018-09-13 → 2018-09-15
    12 meter depth reported in 01-13.40S 106-49.69E
    Shouth China Sea · Indonesia
  2. HYDROPAC 3179/182018-08-30 → 2019-03-22
    Dangerous wreck, least depth 9.2 meters, in 11-52.85N 109-10.79E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  3. HYDROPAC 3038/182018-08-18 → 2018-09-07
    M/V hoang thinh 68, sank in 20-12.90N 107-06.90E at 180815Z
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  4. HYDROPAC 2606/182018-07-17 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 10-19.5N 107-07.2E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  5. HYDROPAC 2511/182018-07-09 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 21-24.08N 108-02.70E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam · China
  6. HYDROPAC 2336/182018-06-25 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 20-54.59N 107-16.36E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  7. HYDROPAC 2330/182018-06-24 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 21-24.08N 108-02.70E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  8. HYDROPAC 2172/182018-06-11 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck vicinity 17-59N 106-32E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  9. HYDROPAC 882/182018-03-07 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 20-25.8N 107-03.0E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  10. HYDROPAC 123/182018-01-10 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 20-47.53N 106-55.03E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  11. HYDROPAC 3813/172017-11-05 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wrecks in: a. 13-45.00N 109-14.50E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  12. HYDROPAC 3806/172017-11-04 → 2017-11-05
    M/V bien bac 16 and vessel hoa MAI68 sank in vicinity 13-45N 109-14E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  13. HYDROPAC 3802/172017-11-04 → 2017-11-05
    M/V ha trung 98 sank in vicinity 13-46N 109-14E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  14. HYDROPAC 3712/172017-10-30 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 18-49.77N 105-44.33E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  15. HYDROPAC 2668/172017-08-06 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 19-16.30N 105-50.75E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  16. HYDROPAC 2459/172017-07-17 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 18-50.23N 105-46.07E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  17. HYDROPAC 2234/172017-06-26 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 17-09.0N 107-19.9E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  18. HYDROPAC 2038/172017-06-11 → 2017-06-30
    M/V chemroad journey aground in 10-02.4N 108-58.5E at 110230Z jun
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  19. HYDROPAC 1950/172017-06-03 → 2017-06-03
    F/V btr 94958 ts aground in 10-54.81N 108-17.64E at 021900Z jun
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  20. HYDROPAC 1619/172017-05-07 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 20-31.39N 107-01.23E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  21. HYDROPAC 1524/172017-04-30 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 09-55N 107-23E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  22. HYDROPAC 1523/172017-04-30 → 2017-04-30
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 09-55N 107-23E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  23. HYDROPAC 1486/172017-04-28 → 2017-04-30
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 09-55N 107-23E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  24. HYDROPAC 1482/172017-04-28 → 2017-04-28
    F/V bth 99619 ts sank in vicinity 09-55N 107-23E at 251800Z apr
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  25. HYDROPAC 1254/172017-04-09 → 2018-09-07
    Obstruction in 10-20.35N 107-47.10E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  26. HYDROPAC 893/172017-03-15 → 2017-10-07
    Dangerous wreck, least depth 12.6 meters, marked by isolated danger buoy, in 01-25.92N 104-27.39E
    South China Sea · Malaysia
  27. HYDROPAC 863/172017-03-13 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 19-51N 106-27E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  28. HYDROPAC 615/172017-02-20 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 19-38N 106-08E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  29. HYDROPAC 570/172017-02-16 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck in 20-40.1N 106-52.4E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  30. HYDROPAC 3873/162016-12-13 → 2018-05-15
    Dangerous wreck in vicinity 20-46.56N 106-55.61E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  31. HYDROPAC 3700/162016-11-30 → 2018-02-01
    Dangerous wreck in 17-59N 106-32E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  32. HYDROPAC 3230/162016-10-22 → 2018-09-07
    Dangerous wreck vicinity 17-43.6N 106-30.7E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  33. HYDROPAC 3229/162016-10-22 → 2018-02-01
    Dangerous wreck vicinity 17-43.5N 106-31.1E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  34. HYDROPAC 3208/162016-10-19 → 2016-11-18
    Shoals reported: a. 8.9 meters in 22-56-47.89N 119-03-14.70E
    Taiwan Strait · Taiwan-southwest Coast
  35. HYDROPAC 2557/162016-08-24 → 2016-08-25
    Dangerous wreck in 11-07.5N 108-54.3E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  36. HYDROPAC 2456/162016-08-17 → 2016-08-21
    F/V py 97759 ts sank in 13-24N 110-43E at 170240Z aug
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  37. HYDROPAC 2206/162016-07-23 → 2016-07-24
    Dangerous wreck in 20-43.26N 106-59.07E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  38. HYDROPAC 2068/162016-07-09 → 2016-07-09
    F/V qng 90479-TS sank due to collision in 16-06N 113-06E at 090400Z jul
    South China Sea
  39. HYDROPAC 1288/162016-05-04 → 2016-07-10
    13.1 meter depth reported in 01-15.6S 105-47.2E
    South China Sea · Indonesia
  40. HYDROPAC 1284/162016-05-04 → 2016-05-05
    F/V 95959 qna sank in 19-00N 114-00E at 031600Z may
    South China Sea
  41. HYDROPAC 1271/162016-05-02 → 2018-02-01
    Dangerous wreck in 20-36.68N 106-58.40E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  42. HYDROPAC 3559/152015-10-29 → 2018-02-01
    Dangerous wreck in 17-08.8N 107-20.5E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  43. HYDROPAC 3271/152015-10-03 → 2017-01-06
    Dangerous wreck in 20-41.31N 107-01.71E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  44. HYDROPAC 2047/152015-06-22 → 2015-06-23
    Dangerous wreck in 20-46-13.7N 106-51-13.1E
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  45. HYDROPAC 1009/152015-03-23 → 2015-07-18
    M/V binh duong 688 aground in 12-33.965N 109-27.673E
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  46. HYDROPAC 3216/142014-10-30 → 2014-12-21
    Dangerous wreck in 22-58N 118-52E
    Taiwan Strait
  47. HYDROPAC 3169/142014-10-26 → 2014-10-26
    F/V bd 95393-TS sank due to collision in 17-00N 108-40E at 260530Z oct
    South China Sea · Vietnam
  48. HYDROPAC 2529/142014-08-28 → 2014-08-30
    M/V hp 0418 sank in 20-33.78N 107-26.46E at 280530Z aug
    Gulf of Tonkin · Vietnam
  49. HYDROPAC 2522/142014-08-28 → 2014-08-30
    M/V phu cuong 0148 sank in 20-39N 109-30E at 280530Z aug
    Gulf of Tonkin · China
  50. HYDROPAC 1949/142014-07-03 → 2014-12-21
    Taiwan Strait

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 — page 2 · seahazards