Earlier, Maritime search and Rescue Coordination Center Region 3 (Vietnam MRCC III) was reported that Ship Buffalo, en route from Egypt to China, rescued five fishermen of ship BTh 97478 TS. The five sailors were on a basket boat drifting on waters around 214 nautical miles east of Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province and 344 nautical miles northeast of Vung Tau city.

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Fishermen having their health checked (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

Vietnam MRCC III asked Ship Buffalo to change its course to Nha Trang to hand over the five crew-members.

As reported by the People’s Army Newspaper, fishing vessel BTh 97478 TS with 15 crew-members on board lost its contact with the shore on the morning of July 10 while returning to Phan Thiet port in the south central province of Binh Thuan. The position where the vessel was found lost was about 85 nautical miles northwest of Phu Quy island in Binh Thuan. 

The 15 fishermen on board escaped in two basket boats, one carrying seven people and the other eight. The boat with seven people drifted towards the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

On July 19, fishing ship BD 96935 TS rescued four fishermen and handed over them to the Vietnam Coast Guard. So far, nine out of 15 fishermen have been saved.

Translated by Song Anh