A South Korean-flagged bulk carrier has rescued all 23 crew members aboard a vessel that had started taking on water and required assistance.
The 2011-built bulk carrier Maple Harbour and her crew participated in the rescue of the crew from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Run Fu 3 while navigating through the Indian Ocean on the morning of June 11, according to C Transport Maritime (CTM), which currently commercially manages the Maple Harbour and is part of the company’s supramax RSA Fleet from Stone Shipping Ltd’s chartered-in fleet of vessels.
While transiting the Indian Ocean, the crew of the Maple Harbour received an urgent message from the Run Fu 3 at 02:45 am local time.
“The Run Fu 3 reported that one of its holds had started taking on water and required assistance,” CTM said in its statement on June 11 on the company’s website.
Upon learning that they were the closest vessel available, the crew of the Maple Harbour changed course to meet the Run Fu 3 and arrived at her location around 5:30 am local time.
As it is reported, the 23 crew members boarded the vessel’s two life rafts and were subsequently rescued by the Maple Harbour.
Following the rescue, the Maple Harbour headed to Port Louis, Mauritius, for the disembarkation of the Run Fu 3 crew.
After rescuing the crew members, Maple Harbour provided them with food, beverages and a resting place, the South Korea ministry of oceans and fisheries said Friday.
Photo credit: C Transport Maritime (CTM)
The ministry confirmed that after receiving a request for help, the Maple Harbour immediately moved to the scene where all 23 crew members safely rescued.
South Korean minister of oceans and fisheries, Kang Do-hyung, expressed his gratitude for the rescue of the crew members: “This rescue operation is an example of how important cooperation and consideration across borders are in the common space of humanity called the ocean,” adding that, “I would like to express my deep gratitude to the captain of the Maple Harbour and all the crew members who did their best for the rescue.”
Shipping Telegraph cannot independently verify the reason of the incident.
