A total of 39 people from Quang Ngai Province in distress at sea were safely brought to the mainland on Thursday morning.

Maritime rescue forces approached the ship QNg 90251TS and deployed rescue measures on the night of November 21. Photo courtesy of Da Nang MRCC

At about 6:00 pm on November 20, all of the 39 crew members of fishing boat QNg 90251TS, captained by Mr. Nguyen Duy Thanh from Binh Chanh Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province, suffered engine trouble at sea.

At that time, the sea conditions were rough and water was filling the lower deck, putting the lives of the crew members in danger.

Captain Nguyen Duy Thanh immediately contacted the Viet Nam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Viet Nam MRCC) to request urgent rescue.

After receiving emergency calls on the evening of November 20, Viet Nam MRCC instructed the crewmembers to take measures to ensure safety, limit drift and prevent their boat from sinking.

At the same time, the unit coordinated with the Da Nang Coastal Information Station to broadcast maritime notices, and ask for help from boats operating nearby.

However, at the surrounding scene, there were no means capable of supporting the ship in distress. The ship rapidly began drifting, posing a potential risk of a maritime accident and threatening the lives of the 39 crew members on board.

A rescue ship SAR 412 from MRCC2, in coordination with other boats from border guard and rescue forces from Binh Dinh and Quang Ngai provinces, found drifting boat after several hours.

At around 11:20 pm on November 21, the maritime rescue force approached the ship in distress, and gave the first aid and medical cared to the victims.

At around 7:18am on November 23, the seafarers were brought safely to the mainland and handed over to the authorities of Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, according to regulations. Meanwhile, their boat was towed to a port in Quy Nhon City.

​Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG