On December 11, 2025, Vietnam’s maritime agencies coordinated the emergency medical transfer of a severely injured cruise passenger from the Westerdam to a hospital in Da Nang. The incident occurred at approximately 2:18 a.m. when a 69-year-old German passenger fell down a staircase while the cruise ship was about 32 nautical miles northeast of Da Nang’s Son Tra cape. Despite receiving immediate first aid from the ship’s doctor, the passenger sustained a serious spleen injury and was believed to have internal bleeding, leading to a critical condition.
Faced with the urgency of the situation, the captain of the Westerdam issued an emergency request for assistance as the weather was rough, with northeasterly winds reaching 40 kph and wave heights of 3 to 4 meters. The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (VMRCC) reacted quickly, guiding the vessel to proceed at full speed towards Da Nang to minimize the risk of further internal bleeding for the patient.
At 3:27 a.m., a pilot boat met the Westerdam at buoy No. 0, allowing for easier navigation into harbor. By 4:30 a.m., the ship successfully berthed at Tien Sa Port, where rescue teams, assisted by the ship’s agent, transferred the critically injured passenger to a hospital for urgent medical care.
The VMRCC plays a crucial role in Vietnam’s maritime safety framework, serving as the main point of contact for coordinating search and rescue operations involving foreign vessels within the nation’s maritime jurisdiction. This operation exemplifies the agency’s commitment to responding effectively to maritime emergencies under the guidance of the National Civil Defense Steering Committee and the Ministry of Construction.
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