Vietnam rescues 20 crew members from burning oil tanker

According to the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (Vietnam MRCC), the agency received a distress alert at 11:52 am on Friday from the Liberian-flagged vessel Androusa and the Cospas-Sarsat international satellite search and rescue system.

The GT Unity, with a deadweight of 7,631 metric tons, reported a fire in its electrical storage room while carrying 3,872 metric tons of crude oil from Malaysia to central Vietnam’s Dung Quat.

At the time of the incident, the tanker was located approximately 104 nautical miles south-southeast of Con Dao Island, a special zone administered by Ho Chi Minh City, with southwest winds of about 19 kph.

Sixteen of the 20 crew members had abandoned ship before rescue units arrived.

Vietnam MRCC immediately contacted the Androusa, requesting it to return to the scene to assist.

The Androusa re-approached the burning tanker and communicated with its crew.

Meanwhile, at the central command post, Le Do Muoi, head of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration, directed the rescue operation, issued maritime safety alerts, and mobilized emergency rescue assets, with coordination from the navy, coast guard, and other agencies.

At 1:15 pm, rescue vessel SAR 413 departed Vung Tau, now under the umbrella of Ho Chi Minh City, for the site.

Vietnam MRCC also asked the GT Unity’s owner to prepare firefighting support and requested nearby oil rig standby vessels to join the rescue effort.

By 3:30 pm the same day, the Androusa vessel had successfully rescued all 20 crew members, though one was critically injured.

The SAR 413 was still en route to transfer the crew to shore.

Muoi later sent a commendation letter to the Androusa crew, praising their role in the rescue.