16 saved aboard drifting fishing boats
VOV.VN -The rescue ship of the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre was able to rescue 16 sailors from two fishing vessels that were adrift 30 miles from Tri Ton island on May 8.
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| Photo: SGGP |
After discovering the fault, the ship’s captain Le Xuan Le, 50, sent out a distress signal. Upon receiving the SOS message, the rescue centre notified nearby vessels and called for their assistance.
A nearby fishing boat, coded QNa 90378 TS and being captained by Ngo Tan Lai, 46, heard the call and was able to successfully gain access to the adrift vessel. Unfortunately, bad weather meant that the rescue effort ran into a number of difficulties.
Whilst towing the fishing boat back to safety, the second fishing vessel, which itself was carrying six crew members, ran into trouble due to engine failure at 4:00 on May 6.
Unable to repair the engine, the captain sent out a distress signal. By 17:23, both boats were at risk of sinking as they had drifted into dangerous waters.
The Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre dispatched the rescue ship SAR 412 of The Zone II Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to begin a search for both fishing boats.
The incident concluded at 23:45 on May 7 when both ships with all 16 fishermen on board were successfully rescued and towed safely to the port in Danang.
