Crew Rescued from Sinking Vietnamese Cargo Ship

The Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that its Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) was alerted to an emergency situation by the general cargo ship Hung Phat 89, which has a deadweight tonnage (dwt) of 3,069, at approximately 4pm local time on March 10th. The distress signal was sent when the Vietnamese-flagged ship was located about 380 nautical miles east of Vung Tau, Vietnam, and within the jurisdiction of the Singapore Maritime Search and Rescue Region.

MPA stated, “MRCC Singapore immediately issued navigational broadcasts for vessels in the vicinity to keep a lookout and report sightings of the vessel in distress, and also alerted MRCC Vietnam.”

By around 7pm on March 10th, MRCC Vietnam notified the Singaporean authorities that all 11 crew members of the Hung Phat 89 had been safely rescued, but the ship itself had sunk.

The vessel, Hung Phat 89, constructed in 2006, is the property of Thai Duong Marine Transport based in Vietnam.