TELEGRAPHIC AQUMEŞƏ
BANKLINE LONDONEC3 LONDON #87302
M/V Ruddbank.
THE
BANK LINE
LIMITED
REGISTERED OFFICE: 102, HOPE STREET, GLASGOW.
REGISTERED NUMBER:
BOR: SCOTLAND
N
DOCK At anchor in International Waters
PORT near Hong Kong.
No......... 6.
The Bank Line Ltd.,
RECEIVED
BALTIC EXCHANGE BUILDINGS,
21, BURY STREET,
LONDON, EC3A SAU.
30 AUG 1979
8th August
19...79
Baltic Exchange Buildings,
21 Bury Street,
LONDON ÉC3A 5AŬ.
Dear Sirs,
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
I now report on the rescue of the 124 Vietnamese refugees from a boat in the South China Sea,
The vessel, on a voyage from Bilbao to Shanghai, had passed Singapore at 0836 on the 3rd August, she cleared the Straits at 1005 and course was set 068T along the N.E.Monsoon track to a point off Subi Island in the South Natuna Group, this was reached at 0400 on the 4th August, course was then set 026T to pass be- tween Prince of Wales Bank and Rifleman Bank, thence east of Macclesfield Bank, thence N.N.E ward through the Taiwan Strait to Shanghai. The fore-noon watch on the 4th August opened with a N.E. ly Force 3, slight sea, long low swell, search Radar showed scattered rain squalls within 12 miles range, the vessel was making 17 Knots and enjoying the favourable monsoon set to the north, she was rolling and pitching easiliy.
Third Officer Penhaligon sighted a small craft on the starboard bow and reported this fact to me, on investigation it was found to be in distress and was making signals for assistance, the time was 0834, the vessel was brought about and her way taken off, the boat was brought alongside the vessels starboard side at 0900 and secured with ships lines.
The boat was typical of the type seen in the Indo China Delta area, suit- able for river and sheltered water work, it was about 35 feet long with a beam of 8 feet, undecked, with fitted bottom boards covering an 18" bilge space, fitted with diesel engine, one stepped mast with one slatted Junk type steadying sail which was completely tattered. The boat was in a very poor condition with fractured stem and broken rudder, when securing alongside, parts of the bulwarks came away with the mooring horns.
The Boat was crowded with people, many not even aware that they were along- side a vessel. The Boat was rank and foul with people lying in their own soilings. The leader of the refugees communicated with me in good English, told me that his party had been at sea for eleven days, 132 persons had set off from Vung Tau Bay, 8 had died during the voyage, they had no provisions, no diesel oil and had been 7 days without drinking water. I could see that these people were in a serious con- dition and that no replenishments could help them. Water was taken down to the boat, to pass amongst the survivors. The worst cases were lifted on board first, 3 unconsc- ious women, 1 unconscious child, 1 child with spasms, a few of the fitter young males with their leader assisted the officers and crew in lifting the people on board, the deck areas in way of Number 3/4 Masthouse were used to lay the people and sort out
ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COMPANY.
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