The specialized search and rescue ship SAR 413 of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center promptly rescued four Vietnamese fishermen from a sunken fishing boat in international waters. Photo: VNA

While the sea is the "home" of fishermen, there are still many dangers at sea that threaten the lives of those who dare to enter the watery domain.

In the vast ocean, Vietnamese fishermen are never alone, as they always have orange-shirted servicemen accompanying them at all coordinates, come whenever fishermen need rescue.

Those orange-shirted rescuers are soldiers from the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center-A unit whose mission is to protect fishermen at sea.

Mission to search and rescue

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC) was established on October 2, 1996 under Decision No. 2628 QD/TCCB-LD of the Minister of Transport, and was re-organized and operated according to Decision No. 1252/QD-BGTVT of the Minister of Transport dated October 5, 2023 t.

MRCC is a humanitarian unit under the Vietnam Maritime Administration, Ministry of Transport, assigned by the State to perform the function of coordinating search and rescue activities in Vietnamese waters, except for seaport waters, prohibited and restricted areas at sea.

It is Vietnam's national focal point agency responsible for coordinating and participating in cooperative search and rescue activities at sea with countries and international organizations in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties which Vietnam adhere and participates in.

The center ensures to maintain permanent operations 24/7, ready to promptly receive and effectively process 100% of information related to maritime accidents and incidents in waters responsible for search and rescue of Vietnam.

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center has its headquarter in Hanoi and the 4 Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centers for Regions I, II, III and IV, which are based in Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Vung Tau.

In recent years, search and rescue activities at sea achieved positive results. The center saves and supports all people in distress at sea, regardless of nationality, religion, conditions and circumstances, being a spiritual support for seafarers.

From those efforts, Vietnam has established international reputation and trust in its search and rescue system at sea with high efficiency and reliability, while contributing to affirming the country's sovereignty over the seas and islands. .

This demonstrates Vietnam's responsibility as a maritime country to implement international treaties to which Vietnam is a member.

Vietnam Maritime Rescue Force: A protection shield for fishermen at sea. Photo: Vietnam MRCC

Treat victims as their own family

Nguyen Bao Anh, director of the Center for Coordination of Maritime Search and Rescue Region III, shared that the current Maritime Rescue Force works in the spirit of "treating victims as their own relatives."

There have been many touching stories about SAR ship rescuers experiencing countless storms and harsh circumstances, exceeding the limits of human and ship strength to promptly rescue people and ships on the sea.

Ship SAR 412 belonging to the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center on Novermber 23 safely docked at Border Guard Squadron 48 (Binh Dinh) wharf, and handed over all 39 crew members with ship QNg 90251 TS for People's Committee of Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province.

Previously, at 6 pm on November 20, the ship QNg 90251 TS included 39 crew members led by Nguyen Duy Thanh (permanent resident in Binh Chanh commune, Binh Son district, Quang Ngai province), while on board in the waters between Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) of Vietnam, had engine failure.

The ship lost navigation under bad weather conditions and was punctured by large waves in the ship's bow, causing a lot of water to flood into the ship, causing the ship to sink quickly.

Realizing that the weather was dangerous and large waves could cause the ship to capsize, Captain Nguyen Duy Thanh contacted the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center to request urgent rescue.

At 11:21 pm the same day, the maritime rescue force approached the ship QNg 90251 TS, deployed rescue workers on board to pump anti-submersible and connect the tow line to ship SAR 412. Ship SAR 412 supported to tow the ship QNg 90251 TS out of the dangerous area and on its journey to the mainland to keep assets for crew members.

For international missions, the most challenging rescue incident was the timely rescue campaign of 303 Sri Lankan nationals drifting in the waters of the Truong Sa archipelago.

In early November 2022, the fishing boat Lady R3, under the Myanmar flag, carried 303 Sri Lankan citizens from Myanmar to Canada, arriving at a location about 258 nautical miles southeast of Vung Tau cape, in the area of Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago, had a problem with water flooding into the engine room.

At 3:05 pm on November 7, 2022, the Center detected the Helios Leader ship (Japanese nationality, call sign 7JFI) sailing in the vicinity. They requested the ship to change its course to urgently seek to rescue Lady R3 ship.

Under the Center's guidance, the Helios Leader ship took necessary safety measures, welcomed victims to the ship, provided initial care and first aid, then brought all 303 people (including 264 men, 19 women, 20 children) to Vung Tau.

Those are just two of the countless stories about the orange-shirted soldiers silently dedicating themselves amid the fierceness of the sea to protect the lives of fishermen.

They act as a fulcrum for fishermen and international ships sailing through Vietnamese waters.

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