At the start of the New Year a distress call was issued by the Vietnamese-flagged product tanker MV Petrolimex 11, while it was off the coast of central Vietnam. The product tanker, which was drifting uncontrollably offshore, was rescued by the Vietnamese Navy. High wind conditions made it difficult but the Vietnamese Navy was able to tow the vessel to a safe anchorage.
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MV Petrolimex 11 had loaded cargo (likely to be gasoline) and was traveling from Malaysia to Vietnam. The distress call said the vessel had suffered a critical engine malfunction meaning it was out of control and adrift. It was 20 nautical miles southeast of Cam Ranh Bay with a crew of 25 aboard.
The navy dispatched one of its vessels and reports it had to battle seas running up to approximately 20 feet and higher. The navy was able to reach the vessel overnight and secured a tow line. MV Petrolimex 11 is operated by VITCO (Vietnam Tanker Joint Stock Corporation) and was built in 2008. She has a length of 176 meters. MV Petrolimex 11 was towed and placed in anchorage at Vinh Tan, one of the international ports in Vietnam.