Coast guard ship provides timely support to troubled fishing boat

Ship 314’s personnel determine the coordinates of the collision site.

Earlier, at 3:50 on the same day, the Coast Guard Region 2 Command received orders to dispatch Ship 314, which was on duty southwest of South Reef, to proceed northeast of Southwest Cay to support fishing boat QNa 91117 TS and its 57 crew members in distress.

After nearly 10 hours of maneuvering, at 13:00, Ship 314 successfully reached the distressed vessel at a position approximately 75 nautical miles from Southwest Cay.

Approaching the troubled fishing boat

Providing care for the crew

According to the boat’s owner, at 23:00 on May 9, the fishing boat was suddenly struck hard on the port side by a cargo ship. Due to the darkness and sudden nature of the incident, the crew was unable to identify the vessel involved. The collision left QNa 91117 TS with two large holes near the waterline at the bow.

Immediately after approaching, Ship 314 deployed a technical team to transport specialized equipment and assist the fishermen in preventing the boat from sinking, while the medical team conducted health checks for all crew-members.

QNa 91117 TS heads toward shore after temporary repairs by Ship 314.

Thanks to the timely support of troops aboard Ship 314, the crew’s physical condition and morale have stabilized. The breaches have been largely sealed. Then, the boat’s captain decided to return the boat to shore for repairs to ensure the safety of both the vehicle and its crew.

Translated by Quynh Oanh