Rescue showcases bonds in stormy waters

The recent maritime rescue of a ship in distress belonging to a Taiwan company and carrying 51 people in the Malacca Strait by a Chinese mainland vessel has moved many observers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

On May 29 at 10 am, while sailing in Singaporean waters, the Chinese mainland vessel received a distress signal from a fishing vessel located 20 nautical miles away. The vessel was adrift in the Malacca Strait due to a sudden mechanical failure amid turbulent weather conditions.

The Shunxing 9, a fishing vessel owned by Zhoushan Shunxing Bluewaters Fishery Co from Zhejiang province, navigated stormy conditions to take the Taiwan vessel from the Malacca Strait to the safe waters of the Taiwan Strait across 1,500 nautical miles.

"In the face of major natural disasters and sudden accidents, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait empathize, extend mutual assistance, and face challenges together," Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said early this month.

On June 7, crew members from the mainland vessel received a letter from the Jih Da Gan fishing vessel from Taiwan's Wa Da Fishery Co, expressing thanks for their assistance in the critical moment.

Zhang Wei, captain of the Shunxing 9, was returning to Zhejiang with 34 crew members from Atlantic fishing grounds after a four-month squid fishing operation when he took the distress call.

Zhang recalled: "At that time, the Malacca Strait was experiencing turbulent winds and rain, with swift currents, and the waterway was bustling with commercial and fishing vessels coming and going. The fishing vessel could have encountered dangers such as collisions or run aground at any moment."

Upon arrival at the scene in the early afternoon, they completed towing preparations in under 15 minutes, establishing a secure connection between the vessels.

Zhang recognized the risks of side-by-side towing and opted for a swift passage through the approximately 80-kilometer strait to reach broader waters. They transitioned to a front-and-back towing formation, maintaining a safe 300-meter distance.

On the fifth day of the rescue operation around 2 am, the towing cable between the vessels suddenly snapped. Zhang's vessel immediately turned back, and crews from the Taiwan vessel secured the cable with emergency lights attached to buoys. The two vessels resumed the towing after over four hours of cooperation.

On June 4, after a long and challenging sea journey, the mainland vessel escorted the Taiwan vessel to safe waters near Taiwan, ensuring the rescue of all 51 crew members. Upon parting ways, the Taiwan vessel's captain expressed heartfelt gratitude to the entire rescue team via a phone call.