Rescuers asked to avoid pollution in saving stranded foreign tanker

Binh Thuan (VNA) – A delegation of the National Committee for Search and Rescue arrived on Phu Quy Island, the south central province of Binh Thuan, on June 14 to direct the rescue of a foreign cargo vessel stranded near the island.

Chemroad Journey of Cayman Islands, en route from Singapore to China, was reported stranded at 6:30pm of June 10 about 28 nautical miles south of Phu Quy Island. 

The vessel with 27 crew members, which are all safe at present, was carrying about 30,000 tonnes of chemicals and 700 tonnes of oil.

Vice Chairman of the Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Nam said the ship owner was asked to carry out fire prevention measures in case of an oil spill.

The company that owns the ship contacted authorities to save the tanker, he added.

Colonel Pham Van Ty, deputy head of the office of the National Committee for Search and Rescue, said as this is an unprecedented incident in Vietnam, the Government ordered agencies concerned to be careful to avoid environmental pollution.

HCM City-based High Sea transport joint stock company was assigned by the ship owning company to work with Japan’s Nippon Salvage company to conduct the rescue.

Vietnam will provide the best possible conditions for the rescue, but all rescue plans must be approved by Vietnam’s agencies before they are implemented, Ty noted.-VNA