The Vanuatu craning ship ‘Wealthy Global’ caught fire on the Front Beach of Vung Tau City in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
‘Wealthy Global’ is nearly 196 meters long and 50 meters wide, weighing 25,000 tons with capacity of 5,000 tons.
While the ship was anchoring in Can Gio District in Ho Chi Minh City, it broke moorings on July 15, 2010 and went adrift at sea. The ship ran aground on the Front Beach in Vung Tau later.
The People’s Committee in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province in March this year had fined the ship owner with VND15 million (US$710) for late retrieval of the ship.
After being informed of the fire, rescue boats of Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center of Zone 3 arrived at the scene to help extinguish the flames but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
However, they were able to rescue all crew members and brought then safely ashore.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
In related news, border guards at Vung Ang Gate took 12 crew members safely ashore from the burning Hai Phong Cargo ship, according to Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Ma Phong. Vung Ang Port Authorities offered them food, drink and a place to sleep.
Hai Phong Cargo ship on October 19 departed from Hon La Port in Quang Trach District in the central province of Quang Binh to Hai Phong Port, which is 10 nautical miles off Vung Ang Port when its cabin burst into flames.
Crew members sent out a distress alert as the ship went adrift at sea amid huge waves and strong winds.
