Initial cause of oil tanker fire in Con Dao waters

Accordingly, at noon on August 8, the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center received information from the Androusa ship (Liberian nationality) and Cospas-Sarsat station about the GT Unity ship (Vietnamese nationality, 7,631 tons) catching fire due to an electrical short circuit in the engine room. The location of the incident was about 101 nautical miles from Con Dao.

Upon receiving the news, the center contacted the Androusa ship to request support. The Androusa ship approached the scene and rescued 20 crew members of the GT Unity ship safely at 3:20 p.m. the same day.

At 2:15 p.m. on August 8, ship KN 210 of Fisheries Surveillance Squadron No. 2, which was patrolling the southern waters, also received an emergency message. At 5:15 p.m., ship KN 210 approached the scene, sprayed water cannons to extinguish the fire and initially controlled the fire.

At 7:55 p.m. the same day, the specialized rescue ship SAR 413 approached the Androusa ship, received 20 crew members, provided first aid and brought them to the port of the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region III in Phuoc Thang Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

By 3 a.m. on August 9, authorities had conducted initial health checks on 20 crew members, including one crew member who suffered burns and was taken to the hospital for treatment. At the same time, the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region III conducted procedures to hand over the crew members to the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard Command and the ship owner.

Up to now, the Forward Command Center is still located at the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center Region III to monitor the incident. The authorities also continuously issue warnings to vehicles traveling around the area where the GT Unity ship encountered an accident and adjust their course accordingly to avoid collisions.

The fire on the GT Unity has been basically brought under control and the ship is now stable at sea. The KN 210 ship remains on standby at the scene to monitor. When the rescue vehicles hired by the ship owner arrive, the KN 210 ship will hand over the GT Unity to be towed to shore.

According to Mr. Bui Duc Son, captain of the GT Unity ship, the initial cause of the fire was an electrical short circuit.

Specifically, an electrician discovered a fire and explosion while working in the warehouse and was injured. He was immediately taken to the medical area on board for first aid. The remaining crew members deployed to put out the fire at the electrical warehouse, but the fire grew larger and the thick black smoke made it impossible for them to approach.

When the area below the engine room was also filled with smoke, the captain decided to release the fixed CO2 system into the engine room and ordered all crew members to abandon ship. After sending out a distress signal, the authorities quickly took action.

In a short time, 20 crew members were approached and brought safely to shore. Captain Bui Duc Son expressed his deep gratitude to the authorities for their timely support.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/nguyen-nhan-ban-dau-vu-chay-tau-dau-tren-vung-bien-con-dao-post807560.html