All 10 Crew Members Rescued After Coal Carrier Sinks Off Vietnamese Port

In a major rescue operation lasting more than 12 hours, all 10 crew members of a Vietnamese cargo ship were saved after their vessel, Cong Thanh 07, sank off the coast of Ha Tinh Province in rough sea conditions late on May 25.

According to Vietnam’s maritime authorities, the 80-meter-long, 5,162-ton bulk carrier was transporting around 4,900 tons of coal from Quang Ninh to Quang Binh when it began taking on water.

The vessel suffered engine failure and developed a heavy list before eventually sinking around 9 nautical miles from Vung Ang Port, in waters 30 meters deep.

At around 8:40 PM local time, a distress call was made by the ship’s crew, reporting the vessel was tilting, flooding, and had lost engine power.

The call was received by Ha Tinh Maritime Port Authority, which quickly coordinated with the Vung Ang-Son Duong Border Guard and other local rescue agencies to launch a search and rescue operation.

By 9:30 PM, Cong Thanh 07 had fully sunk. All crew members abandoned ship and were left drifting in open waters, exposed to heavy rain, waves up to 4 meters high, and limited visibility through the night.

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (VMRCC) dispatched offshore rescue ship SAR 631 and mobilised six other vessels to join the search. Helicopters were also deployed as part of the large-scale operation.

At 5:45 AM on May 26, a fishing boat found one sailor, later identified as 46-year-old Do Sy Thuong, drifting 17 nautical miles southwest of the wreck site.

After this discovery, authorities updated the search area to cover a 30-nautical-mile stretch extending southeast from where the first survivor was found.

By 11:00 AM, SAR 631 rescued six more sailors who were suffering from exhaustion and exposure. One among them was injured and received first aid aboard the rescue vessel.

Meanwhile, three more crew members were picked up by nearby good Samaritan vessels. In total, all 10 seafarers were found alive.

Authorities initially believed there were 11 crew members onboard. However, the ship’s captain later clarified that only 10 had departed on the journey. One crew member had taken emergency leave for a family issue before the ship sailed from Hon Gai.

By the afternoon of May 26, nine of the rescued crew were safely brought ashore at Vung Ang Port. The tenth and final sailor, who had drifted further out, was rescued later the same day by another passing vessel.

Upon arrival at Vung Ang, the crew was met by Mr. Tran Bao Ha, Vice Chairman of Ha Tinh Province People’s Committee. He welcomed and encouraged the rescued sailors, acknowledging the bravery of the crew and the quick coordination between maritime authorities and rescue forces.

One survivor, Bui Trong Tuan from Thai Binh, was emotional while recounting the ordeal, sharing that he clung to a buoy for hours and feared he might never see his family again.

The Vietnam Maritime Administration and other officials praised the rescuers for their timely action under such challenging conditions. The vessel, Cong Thanh 07 remains sunken in 30 meters of water and authorities have ordered the ship’s owner to submit a salvage plan.

Precautions are being taken to avoid environmental damage, as the wreck contains 30 tons of fuel oil and 100 liters of lubricating oil. Maritime warnings have been issued to ships passing through the area during the recovery operations.

The vessel, built in 2009 and registered under MMSI 574013703, was sailing from Hon Gai to Hon La when it sank northeast of Son Duong Port. Its insurer has not yet been identified.

References: vov, vietnamplus

Source: Maritime Shipping News