The Vietnam Coast Guard has rescued 13 out of 15 sailors who remain missing after a Panama-flagged cargo ship capsized in rough seas off Vietnam’s central coast on December 17.
| Panamanian vessel Xin Hong capsized off Vietnam’s south central coast. Source: Thanh Nien |
In the morning December 18, Vietnam Coast Guard ship 6007 has saved 13 sailors of Panama-flagged cargo ship Xin Hong, Thanh Nien (Young People) Newspaper reported.
Of the rescued sailors, at least two are dead, said Bui The Nhan, secretary of the Phu Quy District Party Committee and chairman of the Phu Quy District People’s Committee.
The incident happened off the central province of Binh Thuan when the Xin Hong with 11 Chinese and four Vietnamese sailors onboard was transporting 7,800 tons of clay from Malaysia to Hong Kong.
| Google Maps image of Phu Quy Island (red marker), about 56 nautical miles from Phan Thiet Town of Binh Thuan Province. Source: VnExpress |
This morning, the ship was located 21 nautical miles southwest of Phu Quy Island amid short visibility caused by rain and Beaufort scale 8.
Currently, SAR 413 vessel by Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) – Region III (Vung Tau MRCC) is cooperating with other forces to search for the missing sailors.
The search radius has been extended to five nautical miles from the incident site. Domestic fishing boats have also been informed of the search and rescue.
