Modern vessel joins search for 14 missing in Khoi Nguyen 18 sinking

A large-scale search operation is underway in the East Sea for 14 individuals missing after the cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 sank. As of the afternoon of July 27, Vietnamese and Chinese authorities have rescued three people, with 14 still unaccounted for.

Vietnam has deployed 33 vessels and two aircraft, while China has contributed seven vessels and one aircraft to the extensive search. The Vietnamese Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center has dispatched its vessel SAR 631, described as one of the country's most modern ships, to the scene. The SAR 631 is 63 meters long, has an operational range of over 3,000 nautical miles, and can operate continuously at sea for approximately 20 days.

The Khoi Nguyen 18, carrying 1,700 tons of đá (stone/gravel), capsized around 8 p.m. on July 25. The incident occurred approximately 55 nautical miles west of Da Lon Island in the East Sea. Vessels in the vicinity were the first to respond, rescuing 45 of the 62 people on board before handing them over to Vietnamese authorities.

The joint effort highlights the international cooperation in maritime rescue operations. The presence of advanced vessels like SAR 631 underscores the commitment to finding the missing individuals. The exact cause of the sinking is under investigation, but initial reports indicate the vessel took on water.