Rescue journey for 9 sailors in distress at sea

(Baonghean.vn) - Before being towed ashore by the Border Guard, fishing boat NA91818TS and 9 crew members were in an accident about 25 nautical miles southeast of Cua Sot, Ha Tinh province.

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Returning to the mainland after being rescued by a border guard ship, fisherman Hoang Ngoc Hung - crew member of fishing boat NA91818 TS said that after 2 days of fishing at sea, due to a broken water tank, fresh water flooded into the engine compartment, causing the engine to seize. Despite efforts to fix it, after 2 days of repair, the captain contacted the Border Guard for support after the risk of the ship sinking. Fortunately, the ship was towed in before the cold air arrived.

Health check for the sailors in distress. Photo: Hai Thuong

Previously, at 8:45 a.m. on February 21, the Nghe An Border Guard Command received a notice from the Ben Thuy coastal information station that fishing boat NA91818 TS and 9 crew members, captained by Hoang Ngoc Thom (residing in hamlet 8, Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district), had engine failure and was in danger of sinking, and needed emergency assistance at coordinates 18°34´N - 106º17´E, about 25 nautical miles southeast of Sot estuary, Ha Tinh province.

After receiving the notice, the Nghe An Border Guard Command directed the Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station to coordinate with local authorities to notify ships operating at sea of ​​the location of the distressed ship for support, and at the same time mobilized the BP 06-19-01 ship, along with 15 officers and soldiers of Squadron 2, led by Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Van Hoa - Deputy Political Commissar of the Squadron, to go on the rescue.

At 3:30 p.m. the same day, the Border Guard rescue ship approached the distressed vessel, rescued and provided medical care to the crew members, and towed the distressed vessel to shore. After 15 hours of towing, on the night of February 21, the Border Guard ship towed the distressed fishing vessel to Lach Quen fishing port in Quynh Luu district safely.

Visiting the crew on fishing boat NA 91818 TS. Photo: Hai Thuong

Lieutenant Le Van Linh - Captain of ship BP 06-19-01 said: Receiving the rescue order from the Command, despite the big waves and strong winds, but with the spirit of urgent rescue, the crew on the ship overcame the difficulties, kept in constant contact and urgently searched for the location of the ship in distress. After more than 15 hours of sortie, the border guard ship approached the ship in distress, performed rescue work and towed the ship safely to Lach Quen fishing port.

On the morning of February 22, at Quynh Thuan Border Guard Station, Nghe An Border Guard handed over the fishermen and the ship in distress to the local authorities of Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district.

Mr. Hoang Son - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Hai Commune, Quynh Luu District, on behalf of the cadres and people in Son Hai Commune, thanked and highly appreciated the fighting, rescue and relief spirit of the Nghe An Border Guard force. The soldiers did not fear the danger, wind and darkness, and promptly arrived to successfully rescue the fishing boat and ensure the safety of the fishermen.

Hai Thuong