According to a message posted on the WeChat public account “China Embassy in Egypt” on June 14, recently, the Egyptian Maritime Search and Rescue Center sent a letter of gratitude to the Chinese Maritime Search and Rescue Center. The letter highly praised the heroic efforts of the ship “Xin Haitong 801,” operated by Fujian Haitong Development Co., Ltd. and belonging to Hong Kong, China, which successfully rescued 41 people in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. The letter also expressed profound respect for the extraordinary courage, professional competence, and humanitarian spirit demonstrated by the Chinese crew members.
The Egyptian Maritime Search and Rescue Center specifically mentioned in its thank-you letter that this rescue operation fully demonstrated the noble spirit of Chinese crew members who adhered to the highest traditions of merchant ships and international maritime regulations. It also expressed high appreciation for the responsibility taken by the shipowner, Fujian Haitong Development Co., Ltd., in putting the safety of people at sea above commercial interests, as well as the efficient shore-based coordination and support provided by the ship management company, Fuzhou Daxia International Ship Management Co., Ltd.
It is understood that at 19:50 local time on June 8, the Egyptian Maritime Search and Rescue Center received reports of a distress inflatable raft located at 33 degrees 36.48 minutes north latitude and 25 degrees 32.40 minutes east longitude. There were 41 people on the raft. Without sufficient food and water, they have been drifting for nearly 5 days, and the lifeboat is severely leaking water, posing a direct threat to the lives of the people on board.
Danger is an order. After receiving instructions from the Egyptian Maritime Search and Rescue Center, the ship “Xin Hai Tong 801” responded quickly. The captain made a decisive decision and immediately adjusted the course to reach the scene at the fastest speed. At 1:30 a.m. on June 9th local time, under extremely challenging sea conditions, all the crew members, with their excellent navigation skills and teamwork, successfully rescued all 41 people in distress (including 2 women) safely.
After the rescued individuals boarded the ship, the "Xinhai Tong 801" provided them with continuous humanitarian assistance for 24 hours, including medical care and provisions for food and clothing. At 14:18 local time on June 10th, the ship safely transferred the rescued individuals to Egyptian authorities at Port Said.
"New Sea Compass 801" 's good deeds embodies China's maritime community adhering to the spirit of international maritime cooperation, fulfilling the sacred responsibility of life-saving at sea. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of China's marine rescue system, Chinese ships and crew members have seen an increase in their search and rescue capabilities and emergency response level, frequently taking the lead at critical moments, contributing their strengths to both international shipping safety and humanitarian work at sea.
