A Panamanian cargo ship (the Tongcheng 601) left Kaohsiung Harbor on January 14 for Vietnam. However, about 26 nm 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 the National Rescue Command Center of Executive Yuan, NASC of MOI immediately dispatched AS-365 Dauphin (No. NA-105) of Squadron 2, the 3rd Wing (stationed at Kaohsiung Siaogang Airport) to implement the rescue mission. 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 m to 5 m tall and kept pounding the ship as if the ocean wanted the ship for itself. While preparing for the hoisting, the crew sent an urgent request to National Rescue Command Center for having more helicopters to join the air rescue.
The AS-365 helicopter (No. NA-105) of NASC hovered over the stranded ship at 150 m 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, whereas other 8 seamen were taken care by the medical team of Air Force.
The helicopter landed at Kaohsiung Siaogang Airport at 11:20 and the EC-225 helicopter of Air Force medical team landed at 12:17. Seeing that the seamen suffered from the cold weather, on-duty personnel of Squadron 2 of the 3rd Wing of NASC provided them with blanket and hot drink to keep their body temperature; and called the CGA to arrange the following works. The mission was completed successfully.