Thank You, Crew of COSCO!

That was what the 23 foreigners said from the bottom of their hearts when they, who had been drifting on the Pacific Ocean for three days without any freshwater or food, saw Chinese sailors in COSCO dress coming to save them.

At eight o'clock on March 1, the "Rong Shu" freighter of Qingdao Ocean Shipping Company under COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Corporation), which was loaded with 45,000 tons of goods, was sailing from the United States to New Castle of Australia. Suddenly, a distress signal was given from a high-frequency telephone: "MADAY MADAY MADAY."

The captain of the ship in distress told Xie Guiling, captain of the "Rong Shu" freighter, that he and his staff had been drifting on the ocean for three days and there were 23 persons on the ship including four women and one little girl.

Knowing that, Xie ordered to steam toward the ship in distress. About one hour later, the freighter reached the 25-meter-long ship "ENDEAVOR" which was powerless. Braving the force 5 gales on the ocean and three to four-meter high waves, The "Rong Shu", under the calm command of captain Xie, finally approached the "ENDEAVOR".

The 23 persons who had been struggling for three days were at last saved.

Seeing "Rong Shu" freighter's sailors dressed in the work clothes bearing the words "COSCO", they all shouted, "Thank you, crew of COSCO!" "Thank you, crew of COSCO!"

Back to top
Copyright by People's Daily Online, All rights reserved