Evergreen containership rescues seafarers from burning vessel

While en route from Singapore to Durban on July 9, the crew of the Ever Diadem crew found 30 distressed seafarers drifting in two lifeboats off the coast of Madagascar.

   The officers and crew of ocean carrier Evergreen Line’s containership Ever Diadem recently helped rescue 30 seafarers forced to abandon their burning fishing vessel off the coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
   While en route from Singapore to Durban on July 9, Ever Diadem’s crew found the distressed seafarers drifting in two lifeboats having abandoned the flaming Hsiang Fuh No. 6, a Taiwan-flagged fishing boat, according an account of the incident from Evergreen Line. Ever Diadem Captain Tai Yen-Tang notified Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, South Africa and ordered his crew to stand by for a rescue operation.
   In view of the numbers involved, Capt. Tai also requested the Sbi Antares, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier located nearby, join in the rescue mission.
   Ever Diadem’s captain and crew succeeded in rescuing 16 sailors from one of the lifeboats. The Sbi Antares then followed up by saving the other 14 from the other lifeboat. Those rescued included three from Taiwan, seven Filipinos, four from Vietnam and 16 Indonesians.
   They remained on board Ever Diadem as the ship continued its voyage to Durban, and Evergreen notified the owner of the fishing boat, requesting that they take responsibility for crew in Durban and arrange their repatriation.
   Ever Diadem is one of Evergreen Line’s D-type vessels with a capacity of 4,211 TEUs. She’s currently deployed in the carrier’s Far East – Africa Express (FAX) service, calling at Shanghai, Ningbo, Keelung, Singapore and Durban.
   Evergreen Line is the unified common trade name for the five shipping companies of the Evergreen Group: Evergreen Marine Corp. (Taiwan) Ltd., Italia Marittima S.p.A., Evergreen Marine (UK) Ltd., Evergreen Marine (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Evergreen Marine (Singapore) Pte Ltd.