Salvage and rescue of capsized oil tanker at sea in Nghe An

Previously, at around 7:00 a.m. on January 18, 2021, a 19-meter iron-hulled ship specializing in supplying oil and fresh water to fishing boatsseafood exploitationThe boat driven by Mr. Hoang Van Nhuong in Tan Hai block, Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town was moving into Lach Con port when it suddenly capsized.

The area where the ship sank. Photo: Nam Phuc.

All the assets, oil, and fresh water on the ship were upside down in the sea, only the bottom of the boat was floating. Fortunately, whenoil tankercapsized, Mr. Hoang Van Nhuong managed to swim to shore safely.

The oil tanker capsized at Lach Con fishing port, Quynh Phuong ward, Hoang Mai town. Photo by Viet Hung

Upon receiving the news, the People's Committee of Quynh Phuong Ward, Fire Police Department No. 9 of Nghe An Police, Quynh Phuong Border Guard Station... directed forces to be present at the scene to focus on rescuing and salvaging the ship.

Divers approach the capsized ship to try to salvage it. Photo by Viet Hung

Due to the location of the capsized ship close to the shallow fishing port, combined with the large amount of fresh water and oil in the ship's hold, the rescue work encountered many difficulties. This morning, January 19, 2021, the rescue work for the ship in distress was still taking place. The owner of the capsized oil tanker hired two divers and a number of fishermen to dive into the water to find hooking positions, tie ropes to the ship so that the neighboring ship could pull it up. At 11:00 a.m. the same day, the capsized oil tanker was still being salvaged.

After more than a day of salvage, as of noon today, January 19, the capsized oil tanker has not been pulled up. Currently, the authorities are still continuing to rescue the ship in distress. Photo by Viet Hung

It is known that before capsizing, this oil tanker had just pumped more than 5,000 liters of oil and 20 cubic meters of fresh water into two separate tanks to then sell oil and supply fresh water to fishing boats.

Initial damage estimates are in the hundreds of millions of dong./.