Rescue of all 20 crew members from the oil tanker GT Unity safely ashore

At 19:54 on August 8, 2025, all 20 crew members of the Vietnamese-flagged oil tanker GT Unity, which caught fire at sea approximately 120 nautical miles southeast of Vung Tau Cape (Ho Chi Minh City) earlier the same day, were rescued and taken on board the search and rescue vessel SAR 413 of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC). The maritime rescue forces provided first aid and medical care at sea. Among the rescued crew members, Mr. Dang Xuan Binh (born in 1974, from Hung Yen Province, position: Electrical Technician) suffered severe burns caused by the fire on board.

SAR 413 received and provided first aid to crew members of the GT Unity, which caught fire in offshore waters

Support work to receive crew members of distressed ships

After providing first aid to the severely injured crew member and medical care to the others, SAR 413 safely transported all 20 crew members to the pier of the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center No. III (Vung Tau – Ho Chi Minh City) at 02:54 on August 9, 2025. At the port, the crew members were handed over to the relevant authorities for further assistance. The injured crew member, Mr. Dang Xuan Binh, was immediately transferred to a medical facility for specialized treatment.

SAR 413 brought all crew members to the pier in Vung Tau at 02:54 on August 9, 2025

GT Unity crew was safely brought ashore

The successful rescue of 20 crew members from the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity, which caught fire in offshore waters, once again demonstrates the coordination and command role of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC) as the national and international focal point for maritime search and rescue. The operation effectively implemented the “Four On-the-Spot” principle by mobilizing relevant forces, including foreign vessels operating within Vietnam’s naval responsibility area, to participate in timely response and rescue efforts under the direction of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee, the Ministry of Construction, and the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration.

Handover of rescued crew members to local authorities

Mr. Le Do Muoi, Administrator of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, sent a Letter of Commendation to the Master and crew of the vessel Androusa (Liberian flag) to promptly acknowledge and praise their bravery and high sense of responsibility in assisting the rescue of the GT Unity. Their actions not only contributed to saving all 20 crew members but also reflected the spirit of solidarity and humanity within the international maritime community./.