Singapore coordinates rescue of 25 crew from container ship Hermes III in South China Sea
Singapore's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) coordinated the rescue of 25 crew members from Liberia-flagged container ship MSC Hermes III on Tuesday (Sept 22).The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Tuesday afternoon that the ship had sent out a distress signal at about 8.45am — while it was about 300km off Vietnam — within Singapore's maritime search and rescue region.The Republic's maritime search and rescue region covers over 1 million kilometres of the South China Sea based on the International Maritime Organisation's assignment of responsibilities.Such assignments are based on regional agreements and a country's capacity to coordinate responses. The distress signal prompted the MRCC to coordinate a rescue operation, with vessels in the vicinity responding to assist the crew.Two other MSC vessels, MSC Ruby and MSC Florentina, were also in the vicinity of MSC Hermes III at the time.A total of three vessels responded, with MSC Ruby recovering all 25 crew members as they abandoned MSC Hermes III and left via lifeboat.All 25 crew members were safe, with no injuries reported.