Discover the Rui-Ning-21: Ratings & Maritime News

The bulk carrier 'Rui Ning 21' found itself in a precarious situation as it became grounded for almost a full day at the exit of the access channel leading to the Port of Rio Grande, carrying an impressive cargo of over 68,000 tons of soybeans destined for China. The incident occurred on the afternoon of September 13, 2025, between buoys 2 and 4, just behind the Barra Piers. In response to the grounding, a comprehensive rescue operation was launched, led by the Navy's 5th Naval District Command in collaboration with several private towing firms. A fleet of five tugs was engaged in the rescue, including Wilson Sons’ vessels: 'WS Polaris', 'Crater', and 'Vitória LX', along with SAAM's 'Caripuna' and Svitzer Salvage’s 'Genaro'. Although loading and unloading operations at the port terminals continued, navigation in and out of the port was temporarily halted during the refloating maneuvers. Fortunately, by the early afternoon of September 14, the 'Rui Ning 21' was successfully refloated, allowing maritime traffic to resume seamlessly. There were no reported environmental hazards or crew safety issues, leading to the full restoration of port operations. The vessel anchored at coordinates 32° 17' S 051° 57' W, remaining stationary as of September 16. An administrative inquiry has been initiated to investigate the circumstances surrounding this grounding incident.