Timely rescues a Korean crew member in Vietnam’s waters

M/V SAO UNISON (flagged under Panama, MMSI: 3522180000) is underway from Brazil to Zhanjiang Potou Apt, China, through Vietnam’s waters.

At the position about 174 nautical miles far from the Southeast of Nha Trang, there was 01 crew named Park Yechan (Title: Third Officer, Nationality: Republic of Korea) diagnosed to be suffering from acute appendicitis. His condition was getting more critical. The Captain requested urgent rescue.

Upon receiving the distress report at 10:30 a.m. on February 12, 2025, Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC) immediately contacted the vessel SAO UNISON directly, provided medical consultation to the crew, guided the diagnosis and initial first aid, simultaneously, directed the vessel to alter its course to Nha Trang for promptly receiving medical assistance. Under the directives of the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Vietnam MRCC mobilized the specialized vessel SAR 273, on duty in Nha Trang, to conduct the rescue operations in a timely manner.

Once the vessel SAR 273 approached the vessel SAO UNISON, the rescue and medical team provided medical assistance at sea, transferred crew member Park Yechan onto the SAR 273 ship, after that docked at the wharf of the Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No. IV in Nha Trang where the crew was promptly transferred to the hospital at 02:30 on February 13, 2025./.

On the same day, Vietnam MRCC mobilized the vessel SAR 274 to rescue a fisherman named Nguyen Binh Tai on the fishing boat QNg 94397 TS who had suffered from a serious accident. This crew was then safely brought to Da Nang.

For fishermen working at sea, whether they are foreign crew members or Vietnamese fishermen, regardless of skin color or nationality, Vietnam MRCC always ensures the prompt and timely conducting of search and rescue operations, fully complying with international conventions on search and rescue, with the highest goal of protecting human lives at sea.

The M/V SAO UNISION (flagged under Panama) with one crew member requiring medical assistance

The vessel SAR 273 conducted the urgent rescue operation

The vessel SAR 273 approached the vessel SAO UNISON

Rescue forces provide medical care to victims

Maritime rescue forces hand over the patient to the authorities