Rescue fishing boat, 39 Quang Ngai fishermen drifting at the middle of the East Sea

At 03:00 on November 21, 2023, fishing boat QNg 90251 TS with 39 fishermen on board suddenly had an engine failure, water flooded into the bow of the boat in position 275 nautical miles southeast of Da Nang Cape (sea area between Paracel islands and Spratly Islands of Vietnam). The on-scene weather situation had northeast winds of levels 6 - 7, gusts of level 8, sea waves over 3 meters high and rough sea. All fishermen on board tried to repair the problem but could not fix it, the captain requested immediate assistance from the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (the Center).

Fishing boat QNg 90251 TS with 39 fishermen on board had an engine failure in bad weather conditions in the middle of the East Sea

Upon receiving the information, the Center broadcasted MAYDAY messages, mobilized all vessels in vicinity of the distress position to assist distressed boats and instructed fishermen on board to take safety measures, prepare life buoys, and provide advice on troubleshooting.

By dawn on November 21, 2023, there were no vessels to assist the distressed boat; the weather had turned bad, with the potential risk of sinking; the fishermen were tired and panicked after hours of fighting against the bad weather; food and fresh water on board had run out. To ensure maritime safety and the lives of the 39 fishermen on board QNg 90251 TS, following the direction of the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, the Ministry of Transport, the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Center dispatched SAR 412 (on standby in Da Nang) to urgently depart, proceeding through the night through high waves and strong winds to carry out the mission of rescuing the crew of QNg 90251 TS.

The rescue force approached and assisted fishing boat QNg 90251 TS

At 11:21 p.m. on November 21, 2023, SAR 412 approached QNg 90251 TS to conduct rescue mission, provide food and fresh water, and support to repair the boat.

The Center connects on-scene commander via satellite online television system

The distressed position was far from shore in a complex weather situation, so the rescue force implemented a closed professional process, deployed urgently, promptly and effectively. All on-scene activities were commanded and operated directly from the Central Command Center via the VSAT satellite online television system.

SAR 412 assisted QNg 90251 TS to shore

Due to the increasingly bad weather in the distressed area, to ensure the safety of the 39 fishermen’s lives on board, the rescue force assisted QNg 90251 TS and 39 fishermen to shore. It is expected that by 06:00 on November 23, 2023, the two vessels will arrive in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh.

Some case’s photos