Mobilize all efforts to search for 02 Quang Ngai fishermen missing after a maritime accident

At 06:30 on February 23, 2024, at a position more than 3 nautical miles from Ba Lang An Cape, Quang Ngai, there was a collision between m/v Trung Thang 568 and fishing vessel QNg 11126 TS, causing the fishing vessel to sink. Immediately after the accident, the distress alert was transferred to the Vietnam Maritime Administration and Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center.

Director Le Do Muoi and Deputy Director Nguyen Hoang directly directed the Center to broadcast MAYDAY messages and mobilized all vessels in the vicinity of the distress position to quickly redirect to the scene area, participating in search and rescue according to the four on-the-spots.

Through the investigation, it is known that: m/v Trung Thang 568 (belonging to Minh Long Construction and Trading Services Joint Stock Company, VR-SB class, Deadweight 13,698 tons) with 12 crew members en route from Ho Chi Minh to Ha Tinh, in ballast, collided with the fishing boat QNg 11126 TS (with 09 crew members on board, owned by Mr. Nguyen Dam residing in Tinh Ky, Quang Ngai City, 14.5m long, machine capacity 350 CV). The on-scene weather condition was 3-4 southwest wind.

Vietnam Maritime Administration directed the Center to report to the National Committee for Natural Disaster Response and Search and Rescue; in coordination with the Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority, the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue of Quang Ngai province, and Quang Ngai Border Guards, mobilizing maximum local forces and means to participate in search and rescue.

Under the direction of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Center dispatched SAR 412 urgently to leave the berth to carry out the rescue mission as on scene commander within the optimal search and rescue area that was planned by the Center. At 07:49 on the same day, 07 fishermen of the QNg 11126 TS fishing boat were found out and rescued by on scene forces, however, 01 fisherman died while was transferring to the hospital.

By 12:30 on February 23, 2024, the on scene forces included SAR ship 412 (On Scene Commander), 01 Border Guard boat, 01 Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority boat, m/v Trung Thang 568; 05 cargo vessels (Minh Phu 17, Hoai Son 36, Haian Time, Viet Thuan HN-01, Long Phu 20) and a group of fishing boats operating in the vicinity and 01 vessel of the Vietnam Coast Guard are proceeding to the scene. In the coming time, the authorities will continue to race against time, mobilizing all means and forces, trying to search and rescue the two fishermen of QNg 11126 TS who are still missing. Search and rescue news will be updated./.

Director of Vietnam Maritime Administration directs on scene search and rescue mission via VSAT satellite system