The Hong Kong-registered vessel “Xin Hai Tong 801,” owned by Fujian Highton Development Co., Ltd., was on a routine voyage on June 8 when it received a distress notice from the Egyptian Search and Rescue Center (ESARC), the ministry said on its official WeChat account.
At 19:50 local time on June 8, the center received a report that an inflatable liferaft carrying 41 people was in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. The people had been adrift for nearly five days without adequate food or drinking water, and the liferaft was taking on large amounts of water, posing a direct threat to their lives.
After receiving rescue instructions from the center, the crew of Xin Hai Tong 801 responded promptly. The captain altered the vessel’s course and rushed to the scene at maximum speed.
Crew members of the Xin Hai Tong 801 provide humanitarian care after the rescued people boarded the vessel. /Courtesy of China’s Ministry of Transport
On June 9, under challenging sea conditions, the crew successfully rescued all 41 people. Among the survivors were two women.
Following the rescue, Xin Hai Tong 801 provided around-the-clock humanitarian care to the rescued individuals, including medical assistance, food and clothing. On June 10, the vessel safely transferred the survivors to Egyptian authorities at Port Said.
The center has since sent a letter of appreciation to the China Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, speaking highly of the rescue mission and paying tribute to the Chinese crew for their courage, professionalism and humanitarian spirit.
The Chinese vessel Xin Hai Tong 801. /Courtesy of China’s Ministry of Transport
In its letter, the Egyptian center noted that the rescue mission demonstrated the noble spirit of Chinese seafarers in upholding the highest traditions of merchant shipping and international maritime regulations.
It also commended the vessel’s owner for prioritizing the safety of life at sea over commercial interests, as well as the efficient shore-based coordination support provided by the vessel’s management company.
In recent years, as China’s maritime search and rescue system has continued to improve, the capabilities and emergency response levels of Chinese vessels and seafarers in international waters have been consistently enhanced. Chinese vessels have stepped forward at critical moments on multiple occasions, contributing to international shipping safety and maritime humanitarian efforts.
