Foreign rescue workers are in a dilemma on finding ways to release the Grete Maersk container vessel that was grounded in the southern resort town of Vung Tau in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.
Nguyen Ngoc Dung, a representative of the ship owner, announced on May 12 that efforts made so far to save the ship had failed.
On the same day, the vessel owner hired seven ships of 40,000 horsepower engine capacity to tow the ship out, but their efforts proved futile.
A day before, three rescuers from Netherlands arrived in Vung Tau to find a way to release the grounded vessel.
A representative of the ship owner said that they had not yet assessed the damage so far but some experienced people estimated that damages incurred could rise to around US$50,000 per day.
Until now, the black box of the vessel has not been found hence the reasons behind the incident are unclear.
By the afternoon on the same day, the ships owner met with representatives from Vietnam Customs and Vung Tau Port Authority to discuss ways to save the grounded ship.
At a meeting, the ships owner proposed to drain oil out of the ship to make it afloat. However, representatives from relevant departments said that it is necessary to ensure environmental safety and avoid any oil spill into the sea.
The Grete Maersk vessel was on its way from Malaysia to a local port when the captain turned the wheel abruptly to avoid collision with a fishing boat. Due to a strong wind, the 367-meter vessel ran into a coastal sand bank and has been grounded ever since.
