HK Maritime Rescuers Rescue Mainland SeamenTwenty-seven mainland seamen of a distress timber log carrier were brought to safety Thursday in a rescue operation mounted by the Hong Kong Marine Department's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in the South China Sea, the Marine Department said on Friday.According to Marine Department sources, shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, the agent of the 2,731-ton mainland carrier "Jia Ding Guan" called the MRCC from Dalian to report that the ship, amidst a northeasterly wind of force six and very rough sea, was listing 15 degree to starboard and taking in water at about 107 miles to the south of Hong Kong. The center immediately tasked a fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters from the Government Flying Service (GFS) to search for the distress vessel. It also alerted ships in the vicinity to offer assistance. GFS aircraft later located "Jia Ding Guan" and radio communications with it were established. At about 4.30 p.m., the master of "Jia Ding Guan" decided to abandon the vessel and all of the 27 crewmen boarded a lifeboat. In response to MRCC's call, a nearby Liberian container ship " Dolphin Hope" attended scene under the guidance of GFS aircraft. It successfully plucked up all the victims at 5.10 p.m. |
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