Urgent Search for Missing Crew of Sinking Barge in Quang Ngai Waters

On April 24, 2024, at 08:42 A.M, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (under Viet Nam Maritime Administration - VINAMARINE, Ministry of Transport) received a distress signal. At around 04:00 A.M on the same day, the tug LA-06695 and its barge LA-06883, which is registered as an Inland waterway vehicle with registration class VR-SB, carrying 1,236 tons of stone, were en route from Ky Ha - Quang Nam to Ly Son - Quang Ngai. When they were approximately 03 nautical miles northwest of Ly Son Island, Quang Ngai (roughly 65 nautical miles southeast of Da Nang), a sinking incident occurred. The tug LA-06695 sank, and the barge LA-06883 was capsizing and drifting.

Photo of the incident scene

Promptly responding to the situation, under the direction of the Ministry of Transport, Viet Nam Maritime Administration - VINAMARINE, the Centre cooperated with Da Nang Radio to broadcast MSI. At that time, The Center appointed SAR 412 - posted in Da Nang as an OSC, urgently going to the incident site and assigning the search areas for these vessels: An Vinh Express, Super Speed Hoa Binh, and a group of local fishing boats were already at distress position supporting for searching the missing crew members.

Specialized search and rescue ship SAR 412 performs as an OSC at the incident scene.

Viet Nam Maritime Administration - VINAMARINE has established an Incident Command Post at the Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority. The Incident Command Post was led directly by Mr. Nguyen Hoang - Deputy Director of VINAMARINE and composed of forces from the Centre, Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority, and other relevant units.

The Incident Command Post was led directly by Mr. Nguyen Hoang - Deputy Director of VINAMARINE

By 10:30 A.M on the same day, 03 crew members had been found dead near the incident area. All forces are ongoing to deploy all available resources to continue the search for the missing crew members.

The maritime search and rescue force received the victim's body and conducted a search on the scene

According to information provided by the Ly Son District People’s Committee, there were 05 crew members on the tug LA-06695 and her barge LA-06883, 02 members are still missing. All search and rescue force on the scene continues against the clock, urgently directing the search for victims who are still missing.

This information is provided as an update from the scene./.