A Panamanian cargo ship (the Tongcheng 601) left Kaohsiung Harbor on Jan 14 for Vietnam. However, just 26kn west of Kaohsiung Harbor, the ship sent out a stress signal saying that it was taking on water in the poor weather and drifting on the rough surface. The condition was extremely urgent as the ship might capsize in any moment.
Upon receiving the call from National Rescue Command Center, National Airborne Service Corps dispatched an AS-365 Dolphin, numbered NA-105, of Squadron 2, 3rd Wing (stationed at Xiaogang Airport, Kaohsiung) for the rescue. The mission crew took off at 10:05 after following standard operation procedures and checking the weathers, and arrived at the target area at 10:42. The crew checked the helicopter’s power and performed several flybys at various altitudes. They found that the ship was badly listing to the port side and possibly taking on water very fast. The 13 Indonesian seamen stay on the deck just outside of the bridge waiting for help.
The gusts over the sea made it very difficult to keep the helicopter steady. The crew started checking the helicopter’s power and status while the pilot tried calmly to keep the helicopter hovering, and made the decision to hoist the crew off the ship and onto the helicopter. The waves were 3~5m tall and kept pounding the ship as if the ocean wanted the ship for itself. On one hand, the crew was preparing for the hoisting, and on the other, called for more helicopters from the Air Force Rescue for support.
The Corps’ AS-365, numbered NA-105, hovered over the stranded ship at 150m for hoisting as the waves kept pounding the hull of the ship. The helicopter was showered by the splashing seawater, adding extra difficulty to the rescue. The pilot skillfully maneuvered the helicopter and avoided the ship’s masts, while the crew chief and Coast Guard rescuers worked together to hoist the seamen one by one on board of the helicopter. At 11:06, 6 seamen were on board the Dolphin and the Air Force helicopter took over for the other 7.
At 11:20, the AS-365 landed at the Kaohsiung International Airport, and later at 12:17, the Air Force helicopter did the same. As soon as the seamen who just escaped from a life-threatening disaster set their feet on solid ground, the ground crew of Squadron 2, 3rd Wing brought those blankets, hot drinks and food to keep them warm, and called the Coast Guard to take them over. It was another successful mission.