Since its establishment 21 years ago, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (Vietnam MRCC) has silently contributed to ensuring the safety of 1.5 million households living and working on the ocean and more than 100,000 fishing boats operating on the sea.

Vietnam MRCC was established in 1996 under the Ministry of Transport’s decision No 2628/QĐ/TCCB-LD with the mission of conducting and coordinating search and rescue operations, and reducing accidents at sea.

Over the past 21 years, Vietnam MRCC has handled more than 2,610 cases, saved the lives of nearly 9,690 people, including 921 foreigners, and supported and saved 921 vessels, including 74 foreign ones.

Vietnam MRCC has been progressive in conducting search and recue operations over Vietnam’s legal seas, including the country’s Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.

The centre has effectively fulfilled its assigned tasks as the functional national agency while working with ASEAN countries, strictly observing the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) and the existing cooperation agreement on search and rescue at sea with the Philippines, as well as joining working groups of the Vietnam Maritime Administration in search and rescue.

The centre has also worked closely with the functional agencies of countries in the region and the world in receiving and transferring search and rescue information, jointly held maritime rescue missions, and has minimised the loss of lives and properties.

Establishing itself as a solid foundation for fishermen, during its operation, the centre has received mush appraise and support from the Government, ministries, sectors and people. It has been honoured with accolades from the Government, Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Ministry of Transport, and Labour Order, third class, in recognition of its service.

Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre

Address: No. 11A, Lang Ha ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi

Vietnam MRCC is responsible for receiving and sharing information from and to regional MRCC centres, and serving as a coordinator and commander of Vietnam’s maritime rescue forces, while working with other foreign forces in jointly conducting search and rescue operations.

As an agency hosting search and rescue activities on Vietnam’s seas, the centre also provides directions and guidedance to forces and a means of transport for the maritime industry and other ministries and sectors when required.

Zones of Responsibility

Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No.I (Haiphong MRCC)

Establishment: November 20, 1996

Address: 33/34, Ngo Quyen street, May Chai ward, Ngo Quyen district, Hai Phong City

The scope of operations covers the maritime areas from the southern limits of the maritime areas of Ha Tinh Province to that of Quang Ninh Province: its limits is located within the maritime boundary between Vietnam and Cambodia (to the North), latitude 18°00N (to the South), and overlaps with the outer limit of the search and rescue region of responsibility of Vietnam (to the East).

Fleet: Rescue ships SAR 411 and SAR 273 and Canoe ST 750

Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No.II (Da Nang MRCC)

Establishment: November 20, 1996

Address: Hoang Sa street, Tho Quang ward, Son Tra district, Da Nang City

The scope of operations covers the maritime areas from the southern limits of the maritime areas of Ha Tinh Province to that of Binh Dinh Province: its limits is located within latitude 18°00N (to the North), latitude 13°36N (to the South), and overlaps with the outer limit of the search and rescue region of responsibility of Vietnam (to the East).

Fleet: Rescue ships SAR 412 and SAR 274 and Canoe ST 750

Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No.III (Vung Tau MRCC)

Establishment: November 20, 1996

Address: 45/1151, April 30 Street, ward 11, Vung Tau City

The scope of operations covers the maritime areas from the southern limits of the maritime areas of Ninh Thuan Province to that of Kien Giang Province (not including the maritime areas of the Spratly Archipelago): its limits is located within latitude 11°10N (to the North), the maritime boundary between Vietnam and Cambodia (to the West), longitude 111°40E (to the East) and overlaps with the outer limit of the search and rescue region of responsibility of Vietnam.

Fleet: Rescue ships SAR 413 and SAR 272 and Canoe ST 750

Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre No.IV (Nha Trang MRCC)

Establishment: March 24, 2006

Address: No. 21, Hoang Sa Street, Phuoc Long ward, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province

The scope of operations covers the maritime areas from the southern limits of the maritime areas of Binh Dinh Province to that of Ninh Thuan Province, and the maritime areas of the Spratly Archipelago): its limits is located within latitude 13°36N (to the North), latitude 11°10N and longitude 111°40E (to the South), and overlaps with the outer limit of the search and rescue region of responsibility of Vietnam (the the East).

Fleet: Rescue ships SAR 27-01 and two Canoe ST 750

Under the motto “Life First”, Vietnam MRCC’s search and rescue (SAR) fleet has accomplished many international rescue missions, which have been highly appreciated by foreign friends.

During its 22-years of operations, the fleet has saved the lives of 921 foreigners, and 74 international ships and vessels.

The centre has also joined 11 maritime search and rescue drills with foreign countries and has held regular exercises, an average of 20 times per year, with Japan, the Phillipines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand.

Among the regional centres, Nha Trang MRCC has handled the largest number rescue missions as the region welcomes the biggest number of international vessels.

According to Nguyen Xuan Binh, Director of Nha Trang MRCC, the most difficult challenges for Vietnam’s search and rescue force while carrying out international missions are the difference in languages and the lack of trust from foreigners.

He recalled that in a number of missions, when foreign crew members saw Vietnam’s SAR ships, which are much smaller than their vessels, they doubted the safety and capacity of Vietnam’s maritime SAR team.

At that time, only through their professional working manner could they sweep away the doubt and make the foreigners believe that the Vietnamese SAR agency is fully capable of bringing the victims ashore safely.

Lam Thanh Binh, an officer from Da Nang MRCC shared his experience in November 2007, when its vessel SAR 274 received an emergency call from Panama-flagged Ever Winner vessel with 20 Chinese crew members on board. The 19,000-tonne vessel’s engine broke when it was en route from Thailand to China. The marine engine room was flooding and the ship was at high risk of sinking.

Vessel SAR 274’s rescue team made every effort to safely bring all crew members of the Ever Winner to a port in Vung Tau city. “The vessel sunk soon after the last sailor left,” Binh said.

The mission’s success increased the position of Vietnam’s maritime SAR team, which was then presented with a certificate of merit from the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

Most recently, in August 2017, Vietnam MRCC successfully rescued Marshall-flagged bulk carrier Yangtze Harmony, which was abandoned after water ingress 200 nautical miles off Vietnam coast with 20 Chinese crew and 47,376 tons of steel on board.

The issued distress signal requested immediate evacuation due to worsening weather conditions and the danger of sinking. The local authorities received the distress signal and MRCC Vietnam ordered the nearest vessel, container ship ALS Apollo, to rescue the troubled crew.

Vietnam MRCC has also provided timely healthcare support and treatment and saved the lives of hundreds of foreign sailors who were severely injured or felt sick at sea.

The agency has also joined international mission such as the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which went missing in the early hours of March 8, 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board. Vietnam MRCC mobilised two vessels SAR 413 and SAR 272 for the hunt.

#1 Da Nang MRCC rescues 12 Chinese sailors

In 2009, the Chinese boat Lucky Dragon was on its way from China to Ho Chi Minh City when the ship’s engine suddenly caught fire, causing all information devices on board to fail.

Da Nang MRCC sent SAR 27-01 and SAR 274 on the rescue mission and the ship with 12 crew members were rescued and brought safely ashore.

#2 Saving 10 sailors after three days stranded at sea

A fishing boat coded No.DNa 61406 had engine failure on August 23, 2010, and the boat was adrift in rough seas.

SAR 412 undertook the rescue task, however, due to rough seas, the tow line was broken. Da Nang MRCC sent SAR 27-01 to help SAR 412 to complete its mission. All 10 fishermen were finally rescued.

#3 The long search for MH370

Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370/MAS370) disappeared on March 8, 2014, while flying from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to its destination in Beijing, China.

On the same day, SAR 413 departed at 14.30 and SAR 272 departed at 18.20 on March 9, in collaboration with the HQ 937, 954, CSB 2002, 2003, KN 774, and AN 26 aircraft for the search and rescue for the lost plane.

At 18.20 on March 14, the National Committee for Search and Rescue asked SAR 413 to stop the mission on March 16. There is still no trace of the plane to this date.

#4 The rescue of 13 crew members of the Hoang Phuc 18

On October 30, 2015, the Hoang Phuc 18 with 17 sailors on board sank due to strong wind and waves near Soai Rap seaport, in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau. There were five sailors missing.

SAR 413 was ordered to continue the search and rescue for the five crew members of the ship. At 11.20 am on October 31, one crew member was saved, lifting the total number of those rescued to 13. The rescue work continued until November 1. Two bodies of the crew members were found while four others remain missing.

#5 Three SARs in search of pilots of the SU30 and CASA 212

On June 14, 2016, the aircraft SU30 MK2 with two pilots lost contact during a practice flight at 7.29am. On June 16, 2016, the CASA-212 aircraft with nine crew members also lost contact at about 12.30pm.

SAR 412, SAR 273 and 411 arrived at the rescue site. At 9:45am on June 15, 2016, one of the two pilots on board, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, was rescued, but the other, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, 43, was found dead at sea and brought ashore.

On July 2, 2016, a total of nine bodies from the two planes were found. The search and rescue work for the missing continued until July 14, 2016.

#6 The rescue of nine crew members of Thanh Dat 01-BLC

At 11.00pm on August 8, 2016, Thanh Dat 01-BLC, a ship with an 11-member crew sank after a collision with the Guo Shun 21, a ship from Micronesia. Nine sailors from the Gou Shun 21 were saved while two other were missing.

SAR 413, in co-ordination with the Tan Cang Glory, Fortune Freighter, CN-09, Haiphong 45, Vinh Tan 02, and Binh Thuan 88 conducted the rescue mission.

At 12pm on August 9, 2016, the body of the captain of the Thanh Dat was found.

#7 The search for the Vinalines Queen

Vietnamese cargo ship Vinalines Queen vanished near the Philippines on December 25. The Vinalines Queen disappeared after passing Luzon Island of the Philippines and apparently did not send out a distress signal.

Vietnam MRCC appealed to the Philippines, Taiwan (China) and Japan for help in searching for the crew members. One sailor aboard the ship was rescued, while 22 others are still missing. After 14 days of searching, 22 crew members remain missing.

#8 The collision between the Hai Thanh 26-BLC and Petrolimex 14 left nine dead and four prosecuted

In the early morning of March 28, the Hai Thanh 26, with 11 crew members on board, sank some 44 nautical miles to the east of Vung Tau City in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province while carrying clinker from the northern city of Hai Phong to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

SAR 413 and SAR 272 were sent to the site by the Vietnam MRCC on the same day. Two sailors were rescued. Nine crew members were killed in the accident and all of the bodies were recovered.

#9 Chinese sailor struck by stroke saved in Ba Ria – Vung Tau

A Chinese sailor suffering a stroke was saved off the South-eastern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on July 23. Earlier on July 22, Vietnam MRCC received a request from their Chinese counterpart to provide emergency aid for sailor Zhang Qi, who suffered a stroke when his Hong Kong-Chinese HAI SU 2 ship was on the way from China to Thailand.

The ship was guided to change its course towards the Vung Tau area where it handed over the sick sailor to Vietnam’s search and rescue SAR 413 ship to bring him to the hospital in Vung Tau city for treatment.

SAR 411

SAR 411 was designed with a capacity of 6,000 horsepower and a speed of 26 knots per hour, it can also operate in high-altitude waves of 7-8, with a range of 600 nautical miles.

Nguyen Manh Dung had 14 years of experience as the captain of the SAR 411 at Hai Phong MRCC. SAR 411 rescued four out of the nine crew members of the Huong Dien 09 on October 18, 2011; brought seven crew members of a ship coded 94705 TS safely ashore on December 10, 2016; successfully towed the TH 90867 TS to Cua Hoi port and rescued 17 crew members of the vessel.

SAR 273

With the scope of its activities in the sea from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh, SAR 273 and Captain Tran Van Nhi successfully rescued 10 fishermen of the fishing boat coded DN 90646 TS when the boat’s engine broke down. She also participated in the search for the missing SU-30 aircraft.

SAR 412

SAR 412 is considered as the most accomplished ship and also the only ship that has received both former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Phan Xuan Son is the only SAR captain to receive the Labour Order, third class. He and SAR 412 have been to Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago over 40 times to save fishermen and tow ships in distress. Over the past 20 years, SAR 412 has saved more than 700 people in more than 100 maritime search and rescue operations.

SAR 274

SAR 274 and Captain Nguyen Van Hoa have fulfilled their rescue missions many times.

One of the most memorable trips of SAR 274 was the rescue of China’s Lucky Dragon and 10 sailors after three days stranded at sea.

SAR 413

Dinh Xuan Truong has held the position of the captain of SAR 413 for about eight years. Captain Truong and his crew experienced many memorable journeys, notably the rescue of nine sailors of Thanh Dat 01-BLC, a ship that sank after colliding with the Guo Shun 21, a ship from Micronesia.

SAR 272

Captain of SAR 272 Nguyen Van Do is the youngest captain of the SAR ships.

The most memorable event for SAR 272 this year was the search for fishermen who were burnt and fell into the water after a gas explosion late at night. After three hours of sailing through waves and high-altitude winds, SAR 272 rescued 12 fishermen and brought them safely ashore.

SAR 2701

SAR-2701 is the only ship that was built in Vietnam with technology transferred from the Netherlands.

Under the command of captain Dinh Nhien, SAR-2701 fulfilled many tasks such as the rescue of 47 crew members of the QNa 90019-TS fishing boat on March 19, 2012; the search for 11 crew members missing at sea after the Phuc Xuan ship sank due to a collision; the rescue of two fishermen who were stranded at sea for 15 hours; among others.