Crew Member Missing from Bulk Carrier RTM Zheng He

A deck fitter aboard the bulk carrier RTM Zheng He was reported missing on December 26 while the vessel was en route from China to Western Australia.

The 44-year-old crew member was discovered missing when the ship was passing through waters near the Philippines. In response, the Philippine Coast Guard initiated a large-scale search and rescue operation, which has been ongoing throughout the week.

Rio Tinto, the vessel’s charterer, has stated that it is actively investigating the incident in cooperation with the ship’s owner, Anglo Eastern, and relevant authorities to locate the missing individual.

Despite continued efforts, the search has so far been unsuccessful, and the crew member remains unaccounted for.