January 09, 2019 | 20:19 (GMT+7)
Troubled foreign barge and three crew-members rescued
PANO – According to the Department of Search and Rescue under the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Tug boat TC Dragon of Tan Cang Offshore Services Joint Stock Company received Malaysian Barge MANYPLUS 5 and its three crew-members from Naval Ship 954 on January 8, and started to tow them ashore.
Earlier, at 9:00 January 4, Tug boat EVERLINE 3 and Malaysian Barge MANYPLUS 5 experienced an engine breakdown and the barge with three crew-members on board went adrift while traveling from Thailand to Ho Chi Minh City.
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Ship 954 approaches Tug boat EVERLINE 3. Photo: baohaiquanvietnam.vn |
On receiving the mayday signal, Vietnamese functional forces called on ships near the site to search for the barge. Naval Ship 954 (in Hon Chuoi, Ca Mau province) and Naval Ship 627 (in Ca Mau Shoals) were sent for the rescue.
Barge MANYPLUS 5 was found drifting about 70 nautical miles off Tho Chu Island, Kien Giang province on the following day. Ship 954 then towed the distressed barge to Tho Chu Island and handed it over to Tug boat TC Dragon.
The barge is expected to reach Vung Tau at 16:00 on January 11.
Translated by Huong Ly