Authorities are investigating a Saturday night collision between a cargo ship and a fishing boat just one kilometre off  Tien Sa Port.

The crew of a fishing boat from Quang Nam who were rescued by Da Nang border security forces on Saturday night. Their boat was hit by an unidentified cargo ship near the Tien Sa Port in Da Nang. 

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Dính, commander of the Da Nang border security force, told Viet Nam News yesterday that the fishing vessel (QNa 09191 TS) from Quang Nam, was heading to the Thọ Quang fishing port when it was hit by a big cargo ship in the sea off the Tien Sa Port around 9pm on Saturday, April 8.

“The collision caused the fishing vessel to capsize and sink. Three fishermen were rescued by another fishing ship and two speedboats of the Đà Nẵng border security force that rushed to the spot soon after receiving an SOS. One fisherman swam to the port by himself,” Đính said.

He said all fishermen were in good heath after the accident.

Dinh said a joint investigation team of the border security force, port authorities, traffic police and shipping agents have been researching trips of all ships docking and arriving at the the Tien Sa port.

Captain of the fishing ship, Nguyen Huu Muoi, 50, said a big ship hit his boat on the front right flank, and it sank in just five minutes.

“We called out for help, but the ship, which we could not identify, did not bother to save us. I called another fishing boat near us for help before jumping into the water.

“Two of my crew and I were saved by the fishing boat and speedboats from the Da Nang border guards,” Muoi said.

Another crew member, Phan Thanh Phung, swam for an hour and reached the Tien Sa Port.

The port receives more than 1,700 ship each year, and at least 800 boats dock at the Tho Quang fishing port. 

Three tourists died in 2015 after a cruise ship capsized in the Han River. The same year, a fishing vessel with 10 men from Quang Ngai Province was rescued after they were hit by an identified ship. 

VNS