Timely rescue the crew of an international oil tanker in Khanh Hoa waters

On April 1, 2023, Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (under the Ministry of Transport, Vietnam Maritime Administration) received information: The oil tanker named C.FREEDOM (Nationality: Panama; deadweight of nearly 300,000 tons) was underway from Korea to Singapore, when arrived at a position of 60 nautical miles east of Nha Trang, there was a crew named Francisco Menard Loyd Gica (Title: 3rd Officer, Nationality: Philippines) with pain in the head and abdomen, difficulty breathing, and severe coughing. The captain requested medical assistance and evacuation to Nha Trang for emergency treatment.

Upon receiving the information, the rescue team coordinated with medical agencies to contact the ship directly, provided a medical consultant, silmutanouesly requested the vessel to urgently alter its course to Nha Trang. The crew's condition after that showed no signs of improvement. Facing a life-threatening emergency situation, under the directives of the Vietnam Seach and Rescue Committee, the Ministry of Transport, the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam MRCC mobilized the specialized search and rescue vessel SAR 273 stationed in Nha Trang, to conduct the rescue operations. 01 doctor from the Khanh Hoa Province International Medical Quarantine Center participated in the rescue session.

At 22:36 on April 1, 2023, SAR 273 approached the vessel C. FREEDOM, received and provided the crew with first aid before redirecting him to the wharf of the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No. IV in Nha Trang and handing him over to the authorities. Currently, the victim has been taken to Vinmec Nha Trang General Hospital for emergency care and treatment.

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC) was established in 1996, is a humanitarian unit under the Vietnam Maritime Administration, with the task of presiding over and commanding the coordination of search and rescue forces in the entire Vietnamese sea area; is the national focal point of Vietnam responsible for coordinating and participating in search and rescue cooperation activities at sea with countries and international organizations in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which Vietnam is a member. In 2022, Vietnam MRCC rescued and promptly supported 1.245 people, including 494 foreigners, who were involved in accidents and incidents at sea.

Several photos of a rescue operation./.