On Friday, all 20 crew members of the Vietnamese cargo vessel GT Unity were rescued after a fire broke out in its engine room, approximately 104 nautical miles south-southeast of Côn Đảo Island. The incident was reported by the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa, which alerted Việt Nam’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre.
Rescue efforts commenced swiftly, with the Androusa returning to assist the distressed vessel. By 3:20 PM, all crew members were safely aboard the Androusa. Concurrently, the patrol vessel KN 210 arrived at 5:15 PM and utilized water cannons to combat the flames. A specialized rescue vessel, SAR 413, later met the Androusa at sea to provide first aid and transport the crew to port, arriving in Phước Thắng Ward by 3 PM on Saturday.
One crew member sustained burns and was hospitalized, while the others were handed over to local authorities. The fire, attributed to an electrical short circuit, was largely under control, with navigation warnings issued to avoid the damaged vessel. The captain expressed gratitude for the prompt rescue response, and an investigation into the fire’s cause is ongoing.
