A maritime incident involving a collision between a Panama-flagged cargo vessel Hosei Crown and Vietnamese fishing boat TH 92686 TS occurred in the Gulf of Bắc Bộ, Vietnam, resulting in four fatalities.
The accident took place on 8th April at approximately 06:55 AM local time, when the cargo vessel collided with the fishing vessel, causing it to sink. Upon receiving the distress information, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (VMRCC) instructed the cargo vessel to deploy buoys and begin the immediate search and rescue of twelve fishermen who had fallen overboard. The Center also dispatched its SAR 411 rescue ship at the scene.
Maritime alerts were promptly issued, and nearby vessels were mobilized to assist in the rescue efforts. In addition, the Center informed local forces for coordination and notified the National Civil Defense Steering Committee along with the Vietnam Maritime and Waterways Administration to oversee and direct the ongoing search and rescue operation.
By around 9:10 AM local time, the rescue team successfully rescued eight fishermen and recovered the bodies of four deceased individuals. All were transported by SAR 411 to Hai Phong’s Central Pier and handed over to local authorities.
VMRCC, in collaboration with relevant agencies, has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. It is to be noted that the area was experiencing southeast winds at level 3–4 and foggy conditions at the time of the incident.
