Rescuing Over 1,100 People in Distress at Sea

In 2024, Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC)'s maritime forces successfully rescued and assisted 1,118 individuals in distress at sea, including more than 1,000 Vietnamese nationals.

Key Statistics on Maritime Search and Rescue Operations

During the year 2024, the centre directly commanded, coordinated, and collaborated with relevant forces to conduct effective search and rescue (SAR) operations at sea.

 

In 2024, the majority of maritime accidents continued to involve fishing vessels.

Between December 15, 2023, and December 15, 2024, the center recorded 314 distress signals, of which 280 were actual emergencies, marking a 7.3% increase compared to the previous year. Vietnam MRCC participated in 253 SAR operations.

Of the 280 verified emergencies:

- 205 incidents (73.2%) involved fishing vessels.

- 43 incidents (15.4%) were linked to cargo vessels, including 9 Vietnamese-flagged ships, 9 foreign-flagged ships, and 25 SB-class vessels.

- 32 other incidents were recorded.

The efforts resulted in rescuing and assisting 1,118 individuals, including 1,023 Vietnamese and 95 foreigners. Additionally, 67 vessels (64 Vietnamese and 3 foreign-flagged) were rescued or assisted.

Challenges and Losses

Despite these efforts, 167 people were reported dead or missing, including:

- 26 individuals from cargo vessels (10 on Vietnamese-flagged, 7 on foreign-flagged, and 9 on SB-class vessels).

- 129 individuals from fishing vessels.

- 12 individuals from other types of vessels, including 12 foreigners. Additionally, 65 vessels sank during the year.

Operations in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa

In the maritime zones of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Vietnam MRCC collaborated with other agencies to handle 41 incidents, rescuing and assisting 225 individuals (224 Vietnamese and 1 foreigner) and 15 Vietnamese vessels.

Notable SAR Missions in 2024

- Samudra Indah II Incident (January 29–31): Vietnam MRCC, in cooperation with relevant agencies, successfully rescued 12 crew members of the Samudra Indah II, a cargo ship carrying 2,073 tons of rice. The ship sank 90 nautical miles southwest of Vung Tau and 11 nautical miles northwest of Con Dao. SAR 413 was deployed to search for the 3 missing crew members.

- Giang Anh 18 Rescue (March 24): SAR 274 from Da Nang rescued 9 crew members from the Giang Anh 18, a cargo ship carrying 2,950 tons of cement. The vessel had struck a reef and began taking on water en route from Hai Phong to Quang Nam.

- Typhoon Yagi (September 7): The tugboat Hong Gai sank while sheltering from Typhoon Yagi in Ha Long Bay. SAR 411 recovered 1 body and, in coordination with other agencies, located the remaining 6 crew members inside the sunken vessel.

Persistent Challenges in SAR Operations

Vietnam MRCC representatives highlighted several challenges:

- Limited resources: Insufficient personnel and equipment for SAR missions, particularly in harsh weather and remote sea areas.

- Extreme weather: The increasing frequency of severe weather events has led to a rise in maritime accidents.

- Safety and compliance issues: Many vessels lack adequate safety and communication equipment, with poor adherence to maritime laws and safety practices, particularly among fishing and SB-class vessels.

- Budget constraints: Limited funding for ship maintenance and overdue inspections have complicated the deployment of SAR vessels, especially during the 2024 storm season.

Plans for 2025

To enhance SAR efficiency, Vietnam MRCC plans to:

- Maintain 24/7 SAR readiness, including command centers, rescue stations, and vessels, ensuring prompt response to all maritime emergencies within Vietnam's jurisdiction.

- Strengthen emergency response and training, focusing on SAR skills and crew fitness.

- Improve collaboration with domestic and international agencies to address the challenges of maritime safety and security.