Seafarer missing after blast on Vietnamese product tanker: No sign of 28-year-old engineer

Seafarer missing after blast on Vietnamese product tanker: No sign of 28-year-old engineer
Gary Dixon 22 February 2021 https://www.tradewindsnews.com/casualties/seafarer-missing-after-blast-o...

A crew member is missing following an explosion and fire on a product tanker off Vietnam.

The 7,600-dwt Mekongtrans 01 (built 2008) was en route from Dung Quat to Can Tho when an explosion occurred in a nose cavity on 19 February, domestic media reported.

An electrical problem has been mentioned as a possible cause.

Daily newspaper Cong Luan said the master informed authorities that the fire was under control within an hour.

The missing man has been named as engineer Do Thanh Tung, 28.

Tanker had loaded diesel

Le Van Luong, director of Quang Ngai Maritime Port, told the newspaper that the tanker had developed a problem after receiving 7,000 cbm of diesel oil at Dung Quat oil refinery.

At the time of the accident, there were 19 crew members on board.

Cargoships and trawlers in the area were asked to aid the search for the missing man.

The regional Maritime Search & Rescue Coordination Centre and the coastguard sent two vessels to the scene.

Damage to the Mekongtrans 01 is not clear yet. There is no AIS update from the vessel since 12 February.

Protection and indemnity cover is provided by the West of England club.

The vessel was last detained in India in 2019 with 12 deficiencies. One of the four grounds for detention was a problem with its fire dampers.

The tanker is operated by Mekong Petroleum Transport of Vietnam, which has been contacted for further information.