Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang issued an urgent directive regarding the ship collision

At the site of the container ship KMTC Surabaya (Panama-flagged) and the bulk carrier Glengyle (Hong Kong-flagged) on the Saigon-Vung Tau shipping channel, several units are continuously deploying multiple layers of containment booms (including both river and sea booms) to isolate and remove the spilled oil.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang at the maritime accident site.

Briefed on the oil isolating and collecting efforts involving four layers of oil sorbent socks (three at the site and one downstream), Deputy Minister Nguyen Xuan Sang instructed: "At each layer, skimmers must be deployed to collect the spilled oil and minimize the amount of oil dispersing into the river".

In addition, the remaining oil in the fuel tanks of the Glengyle ship must be urgently extracted as quickly as possible to prevent any unforeseen complications. At the same time, water cannons can be used to pump water deep into the cargo holds of the bulk carrier to push the oil to the surface for continued collection. This will be carried out by the core professional response units.

The collision of two ships was reported on May 25th.

At canal and creek areas, Deputy Minister Sang requested that local authorities deploy forces and utilize canoes and small boats to collect the remaining patches of oil still floating on the surfaces of narrow waterways.

At the site, The Deputy Minister also requested that Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration recruit professional units to relocate the distressed ships, clear the waterway traffic route as soon as the rescue plan is approved.

Earlier, at approximately 10:40 PM on April 25th, a collision of the two ships at lamppost 15 area on the Long Tau River in An Thoi Dong Commune was reported. Due to the collision, the container ship sustained bow damage, while the bulk carrier's stern was punctured, causing an oil spill. Fortunately, there were no casualties or cargo damage.

Hải Ninh