I've checked some close-up pictures I took of her broken hull: it did not crack along the welded joint. However, I do have a suspicion with a part of the hatch coaming, which looks as if cut by a knife, "too regular", while catastrophic cracks usually have jagged edges.
Otherwise, I second superintendent's opinion.
...
By the way, hull is supposed to be the strongest along the joints, mechanical properties of welds are usually better than the remaining part of steel plates (OK, welding defects can compromise that, but that's why you do ultrasonic and radiographic testing, apart from checking every weld visually). When witnessing mechanical testing of welded joints (I'm talking about production tests, using well established welding procedures), the breaking point is always outside the weld. Only once I saw the break happening in the weld itself - but even then the properties well exceeded the requirements.

Cheers

Vlad

Does not hav to be poor welding. All ships will break up sooner or later if they are run a ground.

Built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, Jiangyin (China).
Looks like not very well welded.
Regards Peter