Vietnamese rescue ship threatened at sea.

A rescue vessel from the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region 2, while transporting distressed fishermen to the Hoang Sa archipelago, encountered threats from a vessel numbered 841.

On June 3rd, the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region 2 (Danang MRCC), based in Da Nang, provided a video showing vessel number 841, with a large gun turret at its bow, speeding directly towards the SAR 412 rescue vessel of the Danang MRCC, threatening and obstructing the rescue of fishermen in distress.

Ship 841 turned its bow and accelerated, threatening the SAR 412 rescue vessel while it was bringing distressed fishermen back to shore. Photo: Provided by Danang MRCC.

Earlier on the evening of May 29th, the Danang MRCC received a distress signal from fishing vessel QNa 90927, which was fishing for squid at coordinates 15.05° North latitude, 115.12° East longitude, southeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands. Fisherman Pham Thanh Ngoc on board was experiencing dizziness and difficulty breathing, and was in critical condition. The Danang MRCC dispatched SAR 412 with a doctor to provide assistance.

At 0:30 AM on June 1st, the SAR 412 vessel was approximately 8 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island (part of the Hoang Sa archipelago) when an unidentified vessel appeared about 100 meters away. This vessel contacted the SAR 412 via communication, requesting a change of course. "We responded via radio that this was a Vietnamese rescue vessel on its way to assist fishermen, and we resolutely refused to change course and requested that they not obstruct us," recounted Captain Phan Xuan Son of the SAR 412.

According to Captain Son, this vessel followed the SAR 412 for about 30 minutes before leaving. Early in the morning of June 1st, the SAR 412 approached the QNa 90927 vessel at a location more than 300 nautical miles from Da Nang. Doctors promptly provided Mr. Ngoc with oxygen and transferred him to the SAR 412 vessel to be taken ashore.

Captain Phan Xuan Son points to the coordinates of the Vietnamese ship being threatened. Photo: Nguyen Dong.

At 10:30 AM on the same day, vessel number 841 appeared near SAR 412, then suddenly accelerated from 4-5 knots to 19-20 knots, heading directly towards the side of SAR 412. When approximately 80 to 100 meters away, the unidentified vessel slowed down and changed course, running parallel to SAR 412 and only stopping when the rescue vessel was about 15 nautical miles past Tri Ton Island.

"When encountering each other at sea, ships must communicate through information systems to avoid collisions, not simply ram into another vessel like that. This is a threatening act, disregarding international maritime principles," Captain Phan Xuan Son asserted.

Doctors said that when patient Ngoc arrived ashore, she had dilated cardiomyopathy, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal distension, leg edema, etc., and was at risk of death if not given timely emergency treatment.

In February 2015, the SAR 412 vessel was also surrounded and threatened by naval ships, coast guard vessels, and military aircraft while rescuing six fishermen from Binh Dinh province whose boat had sunk in the Chim En reef area, part of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

Video: Ship 841 obstructs civilian vessel from rescuing people.

According to VNE