Vietnam Coast Guard rescues fishing vessel near Truong Sa

On 11 July, the Vietnamese Coast Guard patrol ship KN 462 responded to a distress call from fishing vessel BĐ‑98387‑TS, which had suffered a main‑engine failure about 33 nautical miles from An Bang Island in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. The coast‑guard crew boarded the fishing boat, checked the health of its nine crew members – all found to be stable – and sent technical personnel to attempt repairs. Because the engine damage was severe, on‑site repair was impossible.

The patrol ship then towed the disabled vessel to the anchorage at Đá Tây Island, also in the Truong Sa special zone, where it was moored for further repairs on the morning of 12 July. The fishing boat, captained by Mai Xuân Tiến, had departed from Quy Nhơn on 1 July to fish in the area. The operation highlighted the coast guard’s role in maritime search‑and‑rescue and in safeguarding the safety of Vietnamese fishermen while affirming Vietnam’s presence in the disputed waters.