SembMarine confirms three employees died in tug boat accident

They were among the 22 who died after the tug boat capsized during sea trials on the Yangtze River. Only three people survived the accident.

SembMarine said the three employees of Jurong Marine Services are assistant manager Baginda Ali Bin Zainul Abidin, chief engineer Aif Rifadi, and operations executive Bernard Chung Wai Kian.

“Management remains in touch with their families and will do our utmost to comfort, assist and support them during their grief and bereavement,” SembMarine said in a statement.

The search and rescue operations have recovered the bodies of all the 22 who died.

The tug boat, built by Anhui Bengbu Shenzhou Machinery, was undergoing sea trials and provisionally registered with the Singapore flag as the JMS Delta. The tug boat was planned to be on charter to Jurong Marine Services.

The tug boat has been hoisted from its capsized position on Saturday. Chinese authorities said investigations have started.