NGHỆ AN – The Việt Nam Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre’s (Vietnam MRCC) SAR 273 boat yesterday rescued and towed a troubled trawler to Cửa Lò Port in the central province of Nghệ An.

The captain of NA 90000 TS trawler was Đào Ngọc Hân, from Nghệ An Province. There were 19 sailors on board.

Engine failure had forced the trawler to go adrift in the waters, 52 nautical miles to the southeast of Xuan Hai Commune in Ha Tĩnh Province’s Nghi Xuân District, since noon on Tuesday.

On receiving the news, the Vietnam MRCC dispatched the SAR 273 boat to rescue the trawler and its men. It reached the troubled trawler on Wednesday afternoon.

The rescue boat personnel provided medical aid to the fishermen who were exhausted and panicked after facing strong waves and winds, and safely towed the trawler to shore.

All 19 crewmen were reported to be in a stable condition.

In related news, the Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue in central Bình Định Province said it was coordinating with relevant agencies to tow a fishing boat drifting off the Trường Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

According to preliminary information, the boat was owned by Phan Văn Dũng, a local resident.

Suffering a breakdown, the boat, with 12 sailors on board, had been drifting in the water, about 62 nautical miles off Sơn Ca island of Truong Sa archipelago since Wednesday morning.

Information about the trouble boat has been broadcast by Vietnam coastal Radio station system so that it could receive assistance from boats in the vicinity. — VNS