U.S.-Flagged Vessel SLNC York En Route To Japan Takes On Water In Pacific Ocean

The crew members of a U.S.-Flagged ship, SLNC York, were rescued after it began taking on water while sailing in the Pacific, the operator Schuyler Line Navigation Company (SLNC) confirmed.

While the cause of the flooding remains unknown and is under investigation, sources suggest the ship, part of the Maritime Administration’s Maritime Security Program, was sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, toward Naha in Japan.

The incident occurred on August 18, 2026, though crew members and technical teams were able to control the water ingress quickly.

The ship is now stable and will receive assistance from a support vessel to reach the port. The Florida-based owner has reached out to the U.S Coast Guard, Japanese Coast Guard and other emergency response partners to assist the vessel.

Thanks to the Pacific Yantai, which was nearby and responded to the crew’s call, everyone onboard was safely evacuated.

SLNC York was built in 2010 and is a part of a fleet of commercially operated vessels, which are useful for the military for transporting supplies required by the Department of Defence during wars or emergencies.

SLNC did not reveal the extent of damage to the ship or the name of the port to which the ship would be taken, nor its exact location.

SLNC York is a 141.6 m long multipurpose RORO and heavy lift cargo ship having a deadweight of 9500 tons and a gross tonnage of 12,679. It is also fitted with two heavy lift cranes and has a speed of 15.5 knots.