Successful Rescue of 10 Crew Members from CÔNG THÀNH 07 Vessel Sunk off Hà Tĩnh Coast under severe weather conditions

Search and rescue team approaches the shipAt 21:10 on May 25, 2025, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (VMRCC) received a distress alert: m/v CÔNG THÀNH 07 (flagged Vietnam, MMSI: 574013703; deadweight: 3,199 DWT; LOA: 79m; beam: 12m), carrying coal from Hòn Gai to Hòn La, flooded and listed to port side before sinking at a position approximately 6 nautical miles northeast of Sơn Dương Port, Hà Tĩnh. The depth at the distress area is approximately 30 meters. Weather conditions in the area included northeast winds at Beaufort force 5–6 and rough seas.

Immediately upon receipt of the distress alert regarding CÔNG THÀNH 07, the VMRCC verified the report and informed the National Civil Defense Steering Committee and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, requesting relevant authorities to mobilize on-site assets and forces for the rescue operation.

Under the direction of the Ministry of Construction and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, the VMRCC urgently deployed the search and rescue vessel SAR 631 to carry out the mission.

SAR 631 carries out search and rescue operations

At the site, the Center mobilized seven vessels to participate in the search, including SAR 631, Thiên Tài 669, Thiên Tài 86, Hải Vân, Phong Nha 01, and CSB 1011, with SAR 631 serving as the on-scene commander for the search for missing crew members.

At 03:30 on May 26, 2025, the fishing vessel QB 93176 TS rescued one crew member in position 17 nautical miles south-southeast of the distress location. Based on data collected from the interview with the rescued crew member and meteorological data at the site, the Center revised a new search plan with the participation of on-scene vessels and led by SAR 631. The new search plan was determined to extend 30 nautical miles southeastward from the position where the first survivor was recovered.

A forward command post was established and activated in Vũng Áng, Hà Tĩnh, under the direction of Mr. Hoàng Hồng Giang, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, with participation from the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center, Hà Tĩnh Port Authority, and other relevant local agencies.

By 12:00 on May 26, 2025, SAR 631, acting as on-scene commander, had directly located and rescued six crew members drifting at sea; other responding units rescued four crew members. According to the rescued victims, there were 10 crew members onboard CÔNG THÀNH 07 at the time of the accident. Thus, all crew members of the CÔNG THÀNH 07 have been successfully rescued.

As of the current time, the Master of SAR 631 has reported the search and rescue results to all vessels involved in the search and rescue operation at the scene and conveyed thanks from Mr. Trần Hồng Minh, Minister of Construction, and Mr. Lê Đỗ Mười, Director General of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, to all forces participating in the rescue effort for their prompt, timely, and dedicated action, which ensured the survival of all crew members from the distressed vessel CÔNG THÀNH 07.

Here are some case photos:

SAR 631 was the on-scene commander

Search area from 08.00 to 12.00 on May 26, 2025

The search and rescue team approaches the ship

Successful search for distressed crew member

Crew members were brought on board SAR 631 for medical care