South China Sea

IHO sea area 49 · 102° to 122° E, -3° to 26° N

in force
10
last 12 months
6
since 1993
2,321
categories
13

In force now · 10

  1. HYDROPAC 2249/26 · Surveys2026-08-06
    Survey operations by vessel PXGEO 2 towing eight 5-mile cables continue until 31 December in Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea; wide berth requested.
  2. NAVAREA XI 356/26 · Cable ops2026-08-06
    Seismic survey by vessel PXGEO 2 towing eight 5-mile cables in the southern Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea until 31 December 2026.
  3. HYDROPAC 2099/26 · Cable ops2026-07-21
    Cable operations are underway in the East China Sea by the cableship ILE DE RE until further notice; wide berth requested.
  4. NAVAREA XI 329/26 · Cable ops2026-07-21
    Cable ship Ile de Re is laying submarine cable in the Taiwan Strait until further notice.
  5. HYDROPAC 2412/25 · Wrecks2025-09-19
    Dangerous wreck in South China Sea off Vietnam at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
  6. NAVAREA XI 437/25 · Wrecks2025-09-19
    Sunken wreck exists in northern South China Sea at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.
  7. NAVAREA XI 435/23 · Nav aids2023-12-04
    The Manila NAVTEX station at 14 degrees 30.3 minutes north, 121 degrees 3.9 minutes east is inoperative until further notice.
  8. NAVAREA XI 153/20 · Wrecks2020-04-06
    A yellow observation buoy is reported at 19-20.6N 113-45.9E in the northern South China Sea on 04 Apr.
  9. NAVAREA XI 664/19 · Wrecks2019-11-21
    An oil rig is reported to exist in the southern South China Sea at 07-42.1N 107-55.8E.
  10. NAVAREA XI 132/19 · Wrecks2019-03-07
    An oil rig is reported at 07-47.5N 108-12.0E in the southern South China Sea, and previous warnings are cancelled.

Longest in force

  1. NAVAREA XI 132/19 · Wrecks2019-03-07
    An oil rig is reported at 07-47.5N 108-12.0E in the southern South China Sea, and previous warnings are cancelled.
  2. NAVAREA XI 664/19 · Wrecks2019-11-21
    An oil rig is reported to exist in the southern South China Sea at 07-42.1N 107-55.8E.
  3. NAVAREA XI 153/20 · Wrecks2020-04-06
    A yellow observation buoy is reported at 19-20.6N 113-45.9E in the northern South China Sea on 04 Apr.
  4. NAVAREA XI 435/23 · Nav aids2023-12-04
    The Manila NAVTEX station at 14 degrees 30.3 minutes north, 121 degrees 3.9 minutes east is inoperative until further notice.
  5. NAVAREA XI 437/25 · Wrecks2025-09-19
    Sunken wreck exists in northern South China Sea at 10-22.31N 107-46.96E.

By year

93
98
99
00
01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

By month (all years)

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

By category · since 1997

Cable ops57025%
Exercises56024%
Other30713%
Derelicts30313%
Wrecks1547%
Piracy1376%
Surveys1356%
Nav aids502%
Missiles492%
Containers352%
Debris131%
Towing70%
Volcanic10%

Archive · 2,311 cancelled

  1. HYDROPAC 1341/11 · Exercises2011-05-02 → 2011-05-31
    Gunnery exercises 0001Z to 0900Z daily 02 thru 06, 09 thru 13, 16 thru 20, 23 thru 27, 30 and 31 may: a. in…
  2. HYDROPAC 1337/11 · Cable ops2011-05-01 → 2011-05-23
    Seismic survey in progress until 22 may by pacific finder towing four 6000 meter long cables in area bound…
  3. HYDROPAC 1282/11 · Derelicts2011-04-27 → 2011-05-07
    F/V 90046QNG disabled and adrift due to engine damage in 15-16N 110-50E at 270200Z apr
  4. HYDROPAC 1281/11 · Exercises2011-04-27 → 2011-05-31
    Gunnery exercises 0001Z to 0900Z daily 02 thru 06, 09 thru 13, 16 thru 20, 23 thru 27, 30 and 31 may: a. in…
  5. HYDROPAC 1262/11 · Piracy2011-04-25 → 2011-05-07
    Two vessels attacked vicinity 03-06N 105-22E
  6. HYDROPAC 1246/11 · Other2011-04-24 → 2011-04-30
    F/V 90082DN reports crewman requiring medical assistance in 16-05N 109-45E at 240100Z apr
  7. HYDROPAC 1233/11 · Surveys2011-04-22 → 2011-05-11
    Drilling operations in progress until 10 may by drilling vessel nanhai 4 within 2000 meters of 18-36.3N…
  8. HYDROPAC 1225/11 · Surveys2011-04-21 → 2011-04-22
    Drilling operations in progress until 10 may by drilling vessel nanhai 4 within 2000 meters of 18-36.3N…
  9. HYDROPAC 1135/11 · Cable ops2011-04-12 → 2011-11-01
    Seismic survey in progress until 31 oct by vessel towing six 6000 meter long cables in area bound by 18-20N…
  10. HYDROPAC 1091/11 · Piracy2011-04-08 → 2011-04-16
    M/V attacked in 02-04N 106-00E at 311430Z mar
  11. HYDROPAC 1032/11 · Cable ops2011-04-02 → 2011-07-01
    Seismic survey 07 apr thru 30 jun by M/V trias towing two mile long cable in area bound by 10-05N 109-02E,…
  12. HYDROPAC 1030/11 · Other2011-04-01 → 2011-04-02
    Tug pancon 6 and barge pancon sapphire unreported pulau bangka (02-15S 106-00E) to singapore (01-17N 103-50E)
  13. HYDROPAC 1022/11 · Piracy2011-04-01 → 2011-04-09
    Attempted piracy attacks reported in: a. 02-03.0N 104-51.0E at 250720Z mar
  14. HYDROPAC 989/11 · Piracy2011-03-29 → 2011-05-14
    M/V marina 26 and barge marine power 3301 hijacked
  15. HYDROPAC 969/11 · Exercises2011-03-27 → 2011-04-29
    Gunnery exercises 0001Z to 0900Z daily 01, 06 thru 08, 11 thru 15, 18 thru 22 and 25 thru 29 apr: a. in area…
  16. HYDROPAC 966/11 · Exercises2011-03-27 → 2011-04-29
    Gunnery exercises 0001Z to 0900Z daily 01, 06 thru 08, 11 thru 15, 18 thru 22 and 25 thru 29 apr: a. in area…
  17. HYDROPAC 965/11 · Cable ops2011-03-27 → 2011-04-02
    Seismic survey 010001Z apr to 311200Z may by M/V trias towing two mile long cable in area bound by 10-30N…
  18. HYDROPAC 964/11 · Other2011-03-27 → 2011-05-14
    Tug surya putra 8 and barge surya cakra 8 unreported palembang (02-59.5S 104-45.4E) to kompong som (10-38.0N…
  19. HYDROPAC 943/11 · Cable ops2011-03-25 → 2011-05-01
    Seismic survey in progress until 30 apr M/V western spirit towing three seven mile long cables in area bound…
  20. HYDROPAC 914/11 · Piracy2011-03-23 → 2011-04-02
    M/V attacked in 01-35.1N 105-07.4E at 211755Z mar

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