Yangtze River Ferry Crash, Commuter Ferry Collides With Tugboat, Two Dead, Rescue Underway

Wuhan, China— A morning commuter ferry crossing the Yangtze River collided with a tugboat pushing a barge at 7:50 a.m. Tuesday near the Wuhan Second Bridge, throwing passengers into the water and drowning two.

The ferry, Wuhan Ferry No.16, carries up to 300 commuters between Wuchang and Hankou. It was halfway across when the tugboat, moving upstream with a loaded sand barge, crossed its path in heavy morning haze. The ferry’s bow struck the tug’s starboard side, then scraped the barge. The impact tore a gash below the waterline.

Two passengers standing on the open deck near the bow were thrown overboard and did not resurface. Their bodies were recovered two hours later 500 meters downstream by maritime rescue teams. Twelve others suffered minor injuries, mostly bruises and hypothermia.

"The ferry lurched. People fell. Water came in fast. Crew shouted to put on life vests," said Liu Yan, 54, a daily commuter who was seated inside and escaped to the upper deck.

The ferry listed but remained afloat and was towed to a pier by the tugboat after the collision. All remaining 180 passengers were evacuated via gangway. The tugboat crew was unhurt.

Wuhan Maritime Safety Administration closed the channel for two hours and ordered alcohol and fatigue tests for both captains. Initial radio logs show both vessels were in contact but misjudged crossing intentions. Visibility was 800 meters, below the 1,000-meter advisory threshold.

"Fog, crossing angles, and lack of AIS alarm use contributed. The ferry should have yielded to the tow. The tug should have sounded five short blasts," a maritime inspector said at a press briefing. He asked not to be named pending formal findings.

Yangtze ferry collisions have declined since new traffic separation rules in 2020, but foggy autumn mornings remain risky. The administration said it would review whether to suspend ferry service when visibility drops below 1,000 meters.

The victims were identified as a 67-year-old retired teacher and a 22-year-old university student. Families were notified.

The ferry will remain detained for hull inspection while the maritime court opens a liability investigation.