Fertile

The troops of the Philippine government managed to rescue 3 crewmembers of the Vietnam-registered bulk carrier, ‘Giang Hai’, during an operation they planned in Kang Tipayan Island, Tawi-Tawi. In addition to the three rescued crewmembers, who were rescued on 10th of November, the Filipino troops recovered the body of the fourth crewmember, according to sources. Earlier this year, pirates had killed one and abducted six sailors of the Vietnam-registered ship, ‘Giang Hai’ in an attack off the southern Philippines on February 19, ReCAAP ISC reported in an incident alert. The bulk carrier was heading from Indonesia to IIoilo Port, Philippines, and while it was sailing 35 nm north west of Doc Can Island, an unidentified number of pirates boarded the ship and abducted the six crew members (Master, Chief Officer, 3rd Officer, 2nd Engineer and one oiler), shooting one sailor to death. https://www.safety4sea.com/philippine-troops-rescue-three-kidnapped-crewmembers/

The "Giang Hai" was boarded by Philippine gunmen on Feb 19, 2017, at 10.22 a.m. in position 06 09N 11939E about 20 miles north of Pearl Bank in Tawi-Tawi, the Philippines' southernmost province in the Sulu Sea. The vessel was en route from Biringkassi to Iloilo, ETA Feb 19, but changed course after the attack and approached Sandakan in northeast Borneo in the morning of Feb 20. It was transporting 4,500 tons of cement from Indonesia to the Philippines. The gunmen destroyed some of the ship's equipment, but the remaining crew members managed to sail the ship. Personnel of the Philippine Coast guard, police and marines found the ship near the province's Baguan Island. Upon boarding the vessel, they found 10 Vietnamese sailors alive and one dead. Seven more were kidnapped. The Coastguard launched a pursuit in coordination with the military and the police.