On February 19 morning, Vessel 471 waspatrolling in an area about nine nautical miles to the southeast of An BangIsland when it received an order to search for and assist a fishing boat with fourcrew members that went adrift due to engine failure.
Braving strong winds of a tropicaldepression, the vessel managed to access and tow the fishing boat to Da Tay Island.
The fishing boat from central KhanhHoa province, departing the Hon Ro fishing port in Nha Trang city on February10, encountered the problem on February 18 afternoon. Failing to fix it,its captain sent signals calling for help from authorities and other fishingboats working in the Truong Sa waters of Vietnam./.