Vietnamese rescue forces bring a foreign seafarer ashore for emergency medical care (Photo: Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre).
On February 16, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre said it had successfully rescued a foreign seafarer who suffered a serious medical emergency while his vessel was at sea.
The centre received an urgent request at 11.28 pm on February 15 from the oil tanker Gulf Loyalty, registered in the Marshall Islands, which was travelling from Singapore to China.
At the time, the ship was more than 185km south-east of Nha Trang Ward in Khanh Hoa Province. A 27-year-old Georgian crew member was reported to be in critical condition, with his life at risk.
After consulting Italy’s International Radio Medical Centre, the ship was advised to bring the patient ashore as quickly as possible for specialist treatment. The captain then contacted Vietnamese authorities for assistance.
The rescue centre provided remote medical guidance, instructing crew members on board on immediate care measures to stabilise the patient. It also coordinated with the Nha Trang Maritime Administration, port border guards, the ship’s agent and local authorities to prepare for the evacuation.
The centre instructed the tanker to head at full speed towards the Nha Trang area, while dispatching the dedicated rescue vessel SAR 273, stationed locally, to reach the scene.
By 8 am on February 16, SAR 273 had reached Gulf Loyalty off Nha Trang. Rescue personnel carried out first aid and initial medical care before transferring the crew member onto the rescue vessel.
At about 9.20 am, SAR 273 docked safely at the centre’s pier in Nha Trang. The seafarer was handed over to the shipowner’s representatives and local authorities, before being taken to a medical facility for further treatment.
