Coal Ship Sank Off Co To Island, Vietnam

After a coal ship sank off the island of Co To in northern Quang Ninh Province yesterday, three crew members died while six others remained missing.

Huong Dien 09 ship, with nine crew members aboard, sank in an area approximately 49 nautical miles southeast of Ha Long Bay following a break-down of the ship’s engine what disabled the crew to control the ship.

It still remains unclear why the crew members called the rescue force only after the ship began sinking.

According to Pham Dinh Hoa, Chief of the Secretariat of the Board, the provincial border guard force and the rescue boats of the Maritime Search and Rescue Center in Zone II are pursuing their efforts to search for the missing crew members.

The ship is owned by Huong Dien Co Ltd in Thai Thuy District, Thai Binh Province.

[mappress]

World Maritime News Staff, December 20, 2011