Timely rescue of a foreign cargo ship crew member injured from occupational accident in Vietnam’s Waters

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC) dispatched the specialized rescue vessel SAR 273 to rescue a crew member aboard a foreign-flagged container ship who had suffered a serious occupational accident while operating in the waters off Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. The rescue operation was carried out under adverse weather conditions due to the strong northeast monsoon.

At 17:25 on November 18, 2025, Vietnam MRCC (under the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, Ministry of Construction) received information regarding the vessel Ever Obey (a container ship flagged under Panama, MMSI: 352001261, length 194.96 m, beam 32.2 m). The ship was carrying 23,743.4 tons of general cargo and was on its voyage from Shekou, China to Surabaya, Indonesia.

When the vessel reached the position at coordinates 13°55’N; 110°34’E (about 135 nautical miles northeast of Nha Trang), a crew member on board (Full name: Harjodasar Agus, Indonesian nationality, born in 1988) had his right hand crushed by an anchor windlass. The injured crew member had received first aid on board, but the wound continued bleeding and showed signs of necrosis. The captain requested urgent medical evacuation. Weather conditions in the area included northeast winds at force 7, gusting to force 8, with waves 3–4 meters high.

Upon receiving the information and assessing that the patient’s condition could deteriorate rapidly (with a risk of necrosis of the right hand) if rescue was not conducted promptly, Vietnam MRCC requested the captain of the Ever Obey to alter its course toward Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, while simultaneously reporting to the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration to dispatch the specialized search and rescue vessel SAR 273 stationed in Nha Trang to carry out the rescue operation.

At 02:30 on November 19, 2025, the rescue vessel SAR 273 safely brought the injured crew member to Nhatrang MRCC’s port and promptly handed him over to the local medical authorities for further emergency treatment at Vinmec Nha Trang Hospital.

The timely rescue of the injured crew member from the vessel Ever Obey once again demonstrated the important role of Vietnam MRCC as Vietnam’s international focal point in receiving, handling, and coordinating search and rescue operations involving foreign vessels and seafarers operating within Vietnam’s search and rescue responsibility waters. Vietnam MRCC actively participates in providing timely response to maritime accidents and incidents under the direction of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Ministry of Construction, and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration.

SAR 273 was approaching the vessel Ever Obey

The injured crew was given first aid aboard SAR 273

The SAR 273 transported the victim ashore and handed him over to the relevant authorities.