S'pore rescue centre coordinates rescue of 305 from sinking ship near Vietnam, 20 kids on board

Samuel Devaraj
The Straits Times
Nov 8, 2022

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was involved in directing the rescue of 305 people on board a sinking ship off Vietnam’s coast on Monday.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, an MPA spokesman said Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Singapore, which it operates, had received information at 12.20pm on Monday from MRCC Colombo that a wooden vessel within Singapore’s maritime search and rescue region had reported that it was sinking.

MRCC Singapore immediately contacted the vessel and confirmed it was in distress. The ship was a Myanmar-flagged fishing vessel named Lady 3, reported AFP.

Quoting Vietnam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, AFP reported that the vessel was en route to Canada when it encountered difficulties about 250 nautical miles off Vung Tau on Vietnam’s southern coast.

There were 20 children on board, reported AFP, which added the ship had faced issues since Saturday, with water flowing into its engine room.

MPA said MRCC Singapore coordinated with MRCC Vung Tau to request nearby vessels to provide immediate assistance, and issued safety broadcasts to the vessels in the vicinity to be vigilant and report any sightings.

MRCC Vung Tau responded to MRCC Singapore’s request and deployed a surface vessel for assistance, added MPA.

A nearby commercial Japan-flagged vessel responded to the request at 4.20pm and provided assistance to the vessel in distress.

The people rescued by the vessel have arrived safely in Vung Tau in Vietnam, MPA said.