Timely rescue of 8 fishermen in distress at sea

On October 31, the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard Command said that at around 4:30 a.m. the same day, fishing boat BT 93839 TS with 8 crew members operating in the sea area 6 nautical miles northwest of Con Dao collided with a cargo ship. The collision caused the fishing boat to sink, and the 8 crew members were promptly transferred to a basket boat.

Upon receiving the distress call, Con Dao Border Guard Station (under the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard) immediately launched rescue operations. Con Dao Border Guard Station mobilized 5 officers and soldiers and requisitioned fishing boat BV 92927 TS owned by Mr. Nguyen Van Cong (Phuoc Hai Commune, Ho Chi Minh City) and captained by Mr. Nguyen Van Dung (Nam Cua Viet Commune, Quang Tri Province), departing from Ben Dam Port (Con Dao Special Zone) to the scene.

After the fishing boat partially sank, the crew boarded a basket boat and drifted at sea.

At about 7:35 a.m., the rescue team approached and brought 8 crew members of fishing boat BT 93839 TS onto ship BV 92927 TS. The location of fishing boat BT 93839 TS was about 3 nautical miles from Hon Tre, the vehicle was partially submerged and the 8 crew members were on a basket boat, drifting at sea.

After approaching, the rescue team brought the crew members onto the ship and performed initial health checks. After initial checks, the crew members' health was stable and normal.

Initial verification showed that the sunken vessel was fishing boat BT 93839 TS, owned and captained by Mr. Nguyen Van Si (Ba Tri commune, Vinh Long province), which departed on October 30 from Ham Luong Border Control Station (Vinh Long Border Guard), with 8 crew members on board. According to the statement and photos provided by the captain of fishing boat BT 93839 TS, at the time of the accident, the captain scanned the AIS device and suspected that the MINAMITO (IMO number 9334985, call sign 3EDC6) had collided with the fishing boat.

At 9:15 a.m. the same day, the BV 92927 TS ship brought 8 crew members to Ben Dam port. Con Dao Border Guard Station then continued to work with the crew members, taking care of their health, supporting them with food and accommodation, and completing handover procedures according to regulations.

Con Dao Border Guard Station approached and brought the fishermen in distress onto a boat to bring them safely to shore.

Mr. Nguyen Van Si, captain of fishing boat BT 93839 TS, informed that after the boat left port on October 30 to go fishing, at 4:29 a.m. (October 31), it collided with a cargo ship.

“After the collision, the crew and I tried to fix the problem, but due to the strong collision, the ship was severely damaged and about 2 hours later the ship completely sank into the sea. When I decided to abandon the ship, I asked the crew to prepare to hold cans, buoys and get into the basket boat, I reported the accident and asked for support from the Border Guard. After a time drifting at sea, we were rescued by the Con Dao Border Guard and brought back to shore,” said Mr. Nguyen Van Si.

Currently, the functional forces are coordinating with the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Port Authority to verify the incident related to the cargo ship MINAMOTO. The sunken fishing boat BT 93839 TS has been anchored at a location 3 nautical miles from Hon Tre (offshore waters of Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City).

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/kip-thoi-cuu-8-ngu-dan-bi-nan-tren-bien-i786560/