The container ship Heung-A Dragon, which was submerged off the coast of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province last November, was successfully lifted on May 20.

According to Le Van Chien, director of the Vung Tau Port Authority, the Republic of Korean ship remains tilted about 5 degrees due to a large hole that measures six metres wide and nine metres long. The damage occurred in a collision with another foreign cargo ship from the Marshall Islands.

The authority is doing all it can to prevent a possible oil leak, which would result in environmental pollution, Chien said.

On May 16, the local rescue forces retrieved over 600 containers and pumped nearly 500 tonnes of oil left inside the ship.

The same day, they also managed to lift the crane vessel Wealthy Globe of Vanuatu – had been stranded at the Front Beach of Vung Tau city since July 15, 2010.

The Heung-A Dragon was carrying containers from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City when it collided with the Marshall Islands vessel Eleni , which was departing from Phu My sea port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The clash on November 7 resulted in the sinking of the Heung A Dragon with about 68 containers left floating in the sea.

All 19 crewmembers of the ship were rescued and returned safely ashore.-VNA