Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang (middle) directly directs the search and investigation of the accident – Photo: L.D.
On April 25, Quang Ngai Maritime Port Authority said that the authorities were verifying and investigating to clarify the four victims who died in the sinking of a barge in Ly Son, but three people were not on the list of registered crew members. signed, before the tugboat and barge leave Ky Ha port (Quang Nam) to go to Ly Son port (Quang Ngai).
3 victims were not on the crew list
After the sinking of a barge tugboat in the waters 3 nautical miles from Ly Son island, Mr. Le Van Trung (Long Huu Dong commune, Can Duoc district, Long An) saw information on the media and went to his sister’s house to ask. His brother-in-law named Vo Van Song was on the barge and had an accident. Mr. Trung went to Quang Ngai to identify his relatives.
Not only did he recognize his brother-in-law as Vo Van Song, Mr. Trung also recognized two other bodies as acquaintances from the same Long Huu Dong commune named Dang Van Nhung and Dang Van Uoc.
Comparing with the initial crew member registration declaration of the ship chartering unit with the Ky Ha port border gate authorities (Quang Nam), the names of all three victims were not registered.
Because in the declaration there were 5 crew members: Pham Van Hiep, Dang Minh Phuong, Vo Tan Khuong, Vo Van Nhieu and Bui Minh Tri.
The three victims Song, Nhung and Uoc are not on this list.
Speaking to the authorities, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, representative of Minh Linh Company Limited (owner of the tugboat and sunken barge), said that in the contract, only Mr. Pham Van Hiep was hired as captain, while Mr. Hiep called If there are more people on the train, this company cannot handle it.
Crew members on the ship in distress took pictures before leaving the port – Photo: CVHH
The charter company did not understand why there was a crew change
Ly Tuan Co., Ltd. is the unit that rents a tugboat and barge to transport stone from Ky Ha to Ly Son. According to the contract agreement between the company and the ship owner, there are 3 people on the ship and barge.
However, according to regulations, there must be 5 people for the ship to operate, including: captain, chief engineer, sailor, and mechanic. Therefore, the company hired two more people, Mr. Bui Minh Tri (sailor) and Vo Van Nhieu (mechanic) in accordance with regulations.
“We hired Mr. Nhieu and Mr. Tri to work and pay by trip. I don’t understand why there is a difference in crew members,” said Ly Tuan Company representative.
Mr. Le Van Trung (holding phone) identified 3 victims, all three were not on the registration list to leave Ky Ha port – Photo: L.D.
Currently, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Sang, Deputy Minister of Transport, is directly monitoring and directing the search for the presumed final victim of the sinking tugboat and barge. With the registration list in one direction and the crew in distress in another, Deputy Minister Sang requested units to clarify the registration list, and the number of people traveling on tugboats and barges.
“The forces continue to organize the search for missing crew members. Relevant agencies are verifying and investigating to clarify why there was a change in the crew list on the ship,” Mr. Sang said.
Previously, at 4:00 a.m. on April 24, tugboat LA-06695 towing barge LA-06883 was traveling from Ky Ha (Quang Nam) to Ly Son (Quang Ngai), when it arrived in the sea area about 3 nautical miles from Ly Son island. An incident occurred that caused both the tugboat and barge to sink.
Currently, authorities have discovered 4 bodies near the location of the sunken barge.
