Life-and-Death Moments Recounted by Fishermen Who Survived the Sinking

On the afternoon of April 9, Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy (born 1970), one of the eight fishermen who survived the collision between fishing vessel TH 92686TS (Thanh Hoa province) and the Panama-flagged ship Hosei Crown, was discharged from Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital in Hai Phong city.

A Thin Line Between Life and Death

At Ward 10, Viet Tiep Hospital, Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy (from Nghi Son District, Thanh Hoa Province) completed his discharge paperwork while recounting: Before the accident, fishing vessel TH 92686TS had set out to purchase seafood at sea on April 1. The vessel was captained by Mr. Tran Van Hong (born 1985, Bac Giang Province) and carried a total of 12 people.

Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy (from Nghi Son District, Thanh Hoa Province) completes discharge procedures after receiving treatment at Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong City. Photo: Phuong Thanh.

"Around 5:20 a.m. on April 8, as the boat was returning to Thanh Hoa, I had just woken up when I heard everyone shouting that the vessel had been hit and was sinking, with water flooding into the compartments. I quickly grabbed a water container to hold onto, while others rushed to find life jackets and protective gear. Just minutes later, we rushed outside to call for help from the Hosei Crown," Mr. Thuy recalled.

The collision between the fishing vessel and the cargo ship severely injured Mr. Nguyen Van Sen (born 1972), causing a torn knee joint and a serious shoulder injury. Still undergoing intensive treatment at Viet Tiep Hospital, Mr. Sen recounted: "I was smoking a pipe when I saw water flooding into the cabin. Everything happened within minutes; we barely had time to react because most of us were still asleep. Some got entangled in the propellers, others were dragged underwater. Everyone panicked, continuously screaming for help. At that moment, I thought all 12 of us would surely die. The international cargo ship, much larger in size, struck our vessel broadside, nearly splitting it in two. Fortunately, after drifting at sea for about 1.5 hours, we were rescued and brought ashore."

Mr. Phan Xuan Thuy (left) and Mr. Nguyen Van Sen (right) recount their life-or-death moments following the collision between the fishing vessel TH 92686TS (Thanh Hoa) and the cargo ship Hosei Crown (Panama-flagged). Photo: Phuong Thanh

Sharing their ordeal, Mr. Thuy and Mr. Sen said that the greatest sorrow after the collision was the death of Captain Tran Van Hong. Not only was he the breadwinner of his family, but he was also a kind, virtuous man who often protected and supported the fishermen working under him. Despite their own loss, Mr. Hong’s family managed to advance each fisherman 20 million VND for travel and funeral expenses.

"Each trip to sea would earn us about 4 million VND," said Mr. Thuy. "I have been battling nasopharyngeal cancer for over five years. But because of my family’s financial difficulties, I have continued working, hoping that every voyage would somehow heal both body and soul. After this accident, I need more time to recover mentally before deciding whether to return to the sea."

Although his mental state has gradually stabilized, Mr. Sen remains shaken. With sad eyes on his sun-darkened face, he expressed: "If we had money, people from my hometown would all turn to business. But because of poverty, we have no choice but to cling to the sea. The collision caused us to lose all our belongings, phones, and even the small amounts of money we carried. We hope to receive support from the authorities and from the Hosei Crown ship to rebuild our lives."

According to Mr. Sen and Mr. Thuy, after the collision, all eight survivors were given medical check-ups at Viet Tiep Friendship Hospital on April 8. After providing statements to the authorities later that evening, six fishermen returned home, while Mr. Thuy completed his discharge and returned home on the afternoon of April 9. Mr. Sen is expected to be discharged on April 10.

Visiting and Encouraging the Fishermen

On April 9, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (referred to as "the Center") reported that all rescued crew members had recovered, were in stable condition, and were handed over to their families and relevant agencies. So far, the search and rescue teams have safely rescued eight fishermen and recovered four bodies.

Mr. Bui Van Minh, General Director of the Center, organized a meeting with the families of the victims, updating them on the situation and the ongoing search and rescue operations. Representing the Ministry of Construction, the Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration, Mr. Minh offered condolences, support gifts, and words of encouragement to the grieving families.

Up to now, the rescue forces have saved eight fishermen and recovered four bodies from the sunken fishing vessel. (Photo: Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center)

Previously, at around 6:00 a.m. on April 8, 2025, fishing vessel TH 92686TS, while operating about 20 nautical miles south of Buoy No. 0 on the Hai Phong channel, collided with the cargo ship Hosei Crown. The fishing vessel sank completely. The collision caused all 12 fishermen to fall into the sea under harsh weather conditions with rough waves and poor visibility.

After receiving distress signals from vessels at the scene, the Center immediately issued an emergency notice and dispatched rescue vessel SAR 411 from Hai Phong to carry out the mission. By 9:10 a.m. the same day, rescuers at the scene had saved eight fishermen and located four bodies.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident to determine the responsibilities of the involved parties.

Phuong Thanh

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