A Panamanian-registered cargo ship ran aground in Penghu County following a mechanical failure, Sunday, October 17, reports TaiwanEnglishNews.
What happened?
The 14-man crew of a Panamanian-registered cargo ship was airlifted to safety after the vessel ran aground in Penghu County following a mechanical failure, Sunday, October 17.
Distress call after loss of power
Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration Magong Signal Station received a distress call from the crew of the Xinyan Fortune at 9:25 am, reporting that the ship had lost power and was adrift around 7 nautical miles northeast of Jibei Island.
Rescue efforts in rough weather
The coast guard dispatched three patrol boats and a fixed winged aircraft to the ship’s position, but strong winds forced them all to turn back.
Failed anchoring effort
The crew of the freighter attempted to anchor the ship, but strong wind and swells prevented the ship from remaining in a fixed position, and it continued to drift until it ran aground on the northern shoal of Jibei Island at around 3:00 pm.
Crew rescued
The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to rescue the crew in two batches at 3:59 pm and 4:17 pm. The crew members were flown to Penghu Airport, then sent to a local hospital for PCR testing for coronavirus.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: TaiwanEnglishNews
