Life Comes First | New Solution of CMES Shipping Rescued 4 Panamanian Seafarers

5 March 2023 (local time), CMES Shipping -- The VLCC New Solution of AMCL which is under China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES Shipping) successfully rescued a fishing boat off the coast of Panama. All 4 Panamanian crew members were rescued.

New Solution received an emergency rescue call from PYTHON, a recovery aircraft of the United States Coast Guard (USCG), at 4:43 on March 5 time on the ship (17:43 on March 5 Beijing Time).                          

After verification, a fishing boat that was of 65 nautical miles to the southwest of New Solution, has been drifting in the sea for 22 days due to critical engine failure, and 4 crew members who trapped in the boat were in urgent need of rescue.

After organizing all the information, the Captain of New Solution immediately reported to the Company, and at the same time activated the emergency rescue protocol to carry out comprehensive analysis and evaluation, and formulated a rescue plan. At 05:00, the Captain briefed with all the crew members the details of the rescue plan, while an emergency command team was set up with AMCL to follow up and guide the operation.

At 05:13, New Solution reported to the rescue aircraft that it was heading to the waters where the trapped fishing boat was located to carry out rescue, and at the same time it contacted Panama's Search and Rescue Department (SAR).

At 11:53 after more than 6 hours of sailing, the helmsman of New Solution successfully made contact with the fishing boat. After another 2 hours and more, the fishing boat was found on the radar, and the distance between the two was 6.5 nautical miles. 

At 14:30, under the sophisticated directions of the Captain, New Solution was able to adjust its course and speed to slowly approach and let the fish boat appeared to the left of itself. The sea was foggy and the visibility was low that day. After more than 3 hours of joint effort, 4 crew members from the boat were safely rescued by the crews and boarded New Solution.

At 15:06 on 6 March, the boat was towed by New Solution to the location designated by SAR in Panama, and the 4 crews rescued got off the boat safely. After completing all the registration and handover procedures, the representatives of Panama SAR expressed their heartfelt gratitude towards the crews of New Solution. This time-pressed operation has then come to a fruitful end.

Though the sea is ruthless, love exists in the world. With professionalism and the spirit of facing challenges, all crew members of New Solution have once again united and worked together for the success of the operation, demonstrating the great love and responsibility of CMES Shipping that expresses love regardless of race and nationality.