Quickly bring Vietnamese sailors in distress on ship attacked by Houthi back home

Just received the ship for more than a month and then had an accident.

Regarding the Houthi attack on a cargo ship that killed a Vietnamese crew member, the Vietnam Maritime Administration said that it visited and encouraged the family of First Officer Dang Duy K., a victim of the Houthi attack on the cargo ship True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden on March 6.

The cargo ship True Confidence was attacked by Houthi in the Gulf of Aden on March 6, killing 3 crew members, including 1 Vietnamese crew member.

Mr. Le Van Toan, the brother-in-law of Deputy K., said that on the evening of March 6, the family received information from Hai Phong Maritime Investment, Trade and Services Company Limited (HP Marine) - the company that signed a contract to send Vietnamese people to work abroad for the True Confidence ship, informing that Mr. K. had an accident and died. This information shocked and bewildered the family.

This journey, First Officer K. had only been on for about a month. He received the ship in China and followed the cargo ship to Saudi Arabia. There was only about a day left until the ship reached its destination when the accident happened.

According to Mr. Toan, throughout the ship's journey, Mr. K. kept in touch with his family by phone but could only text because the internet was slow. Before the ship was attacked in the Gulf of Aden, Mr. K. texted his family to inform them that the ship was passing through dangerous waters and only prayed for safety. The ship was hit by a missile while Mr. K. was on duty.

"He was seriously injured and was taken to a boat, but he could not wait for the helicopter and rescue to arrive," Toan said sadly.

As the main breadwinner in the family with a young wife and two young children, one in primary school and one in kindergarten, Mr. K. works many jobs to earn income for the family. However, he still maintains his job as a train driver.

"Mr. K.'s plan was that by September 2024, after the end of his journey, when his second child entered first grade, he would return home to take his child to school every day, but now he can no longer do that," said Mr. Toan, adding that currently, the family only hopes that the authorities will support him so that Mr. K.'s body can be brought home soon.

Ensure rights for victims' families

Director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration Le Do Muoi said that the Ministry of Transport and all levels and sectors have been making efforts to carry out procedures to bring the victim and the remaining 3 Vietnamese crew members back to Vietnam soon.

The Vietnam Maritime Administration has also directed HP Marine Company and other agencies and units under the Administration to urgently coordinate with ship owners and insurance companies to repatriate and pay insurance benefits to ensure the rights of the family of First Officer Dang Duy K. and Vietnamese crew members in accordance with the law.

HP Marine leaders pledged to the victim's family and the authorities that they will proactively coordinate with the authorities to bring the victim and crew members back to Vietnam as soon as possible and will fully fulfill their obligations and responsibilities to the victim's family and crew members.

The leaders of the Vietnam Maritime Administration have directed relevant units to coordinate with ship owners and insurance companies to repatriate and pay insurance benefits to ensure the rights of the victims' families and Vietnamese crew members.

Representatives of the victims' families expressed their hope that all levels and sectors would promptly implement procedures so that the families could meet their loved ones as soon as possible and enjoy benefits according to regulations.

At the same time, the family pledges to closely coordinate with the authorities to resolve the case in accordance with Vietnamese law and international practice.

Previously, on March 6, the True Confidence ship (IMO number: 9460784, flying the Barbados flag) was on its way from Singapore to Jeddah - Saudi Arabia when it was hit by a missile. There were 20 crew members and 3 escort guards on board, including 4 Vietnamese crew members.

Three crew members were killed and several others were injured. One Vietnamese crew member was killed, while the other three were in stable condition. The entire crew was later taken to the hotel.

According to information from HP Marine Company, on board the True Confidence there are 4 Vietnamese crew members including Dang Duy K. (born in 1983, from Hai Phong, title of Chief Mate), Pham Van T. (born in 1985, from Hai Phong, title of Chief Engineer), Nguyen Van T. (born in 1988, from Hai Duong, title of Second Engineer) and Phung Van A. (born in 1981, from Thai Binh, title of Third Engineer).

The Vietnam Maritime Administration has asked the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to assist in protecting the rights of the above-mentioned Vietnamese crew members and bringing them back home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said it has coordinated with domestic authorities to work with the company that sent the crew to deploy necessary protective measures.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/som-dua-thuyen-vien-viet-nam-gap-nan-tren-tau-bi-houthi-tan-cong-ve-nuoc-192240308191132161.htm