Nine missing after cargo vessel sinks

The prime minister has asked local departments to continue the search for nine crewmen whose ship was hit and sank in the waters off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on March 28.

The prime minister has asked local departments to continue the search for nine crewmen whose ship was hit and sank in the waters off Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province on March 28.

At the early morning of March 28, the Hai Thanh 26 BLC signalled for help about 44 nautical miles to the east of Vung Tau City. The ship was carrying 11 crewmen at the time and transporting clinker from Hai Phong to Can Tho City.

Rescue boat brings survived crewmen to the shore

The Centre for Maritime Search and Rescue in region III asked a Petrolimex vessel that was only 4.5 nautical miles near for help. The centre also sent two rescue boats to the scene. The Petrolimex vessel found two crewmen on a buoy at 8 am and transferred them to the rescue boat. They approached other buoys but failed to find any survivors.

Hoang Tien Khoi, one of the crewmen said the vessel had collided with another ship at 11.55 pm on March 27 and sank. They haven't been able to identify the ship. The Petrolimex vessel said they did crash with an unknown ship on the way. They then decided to return to find and check the other ship.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong has flown to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to direct the search and rescue mission.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Van Cong (left) encourages two rescued crewmen

"We have directed related units to determine the accurate sinking location to send divers to search. The crewmen may still be stuck inside the ship. The divers will also collect evidence to investigate the cause of the incident. The violators will be punished in accordance with the law," he said.

He went on to say that their priority at the moment is finding the missing crewmen, hoping that they would find survivors.