14-4-2024 (JAKARTA) The Bali Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) sprang into action to provide vital medical evacuation assistance to a crew member of a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship who suffered a work-related injury.
I Nyoman Sidakarya, Chief of the Bali Basarnas Office, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that his team received the distressing news of the accident from the ship’s agent, PT Jakarta LLOYD Benoa, on Saturday (April 13).
According to the ship agent, the incident occurred at 11 a.m. local time, with the vessel positioned at seven degrees 10.100 seconds south and 116 degrees 28.500 seconds east.
“We were notified at 5 p.m. local time. The individual involved is Liang Hongfei, a 40-year-old Chinese national, who sustained a severe injury to three fingers of his left hand,” he elaborated.
The cargo ship in question, the Hong Kong-flagged MV Trust Qingdao, boasts a crew of 21 members and was en route from Port Hedland, Australia, to Tianjin, China.
Upon receiving the distress call, SAR personnel and the ship’s agent swiftly coordinated a medical evacuation plan, agreeing to conduct the operation near the waters of Tanjung Benoa.
“At 10 p.m. local time, the joint SAR team utilised the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) 02 Denpasar from Benoa Port to reach the designated coordinates. The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Benoa Base Transceiver Station (BTS) to ascertain the position of the MV Trust Qingdao,” Sidakarya detailed.
Despite encountering challenges posed by the ship’s high hull platform and strong sea currents, the SAR team successfully managed to execute the medical evacuation, albeit necessitating a change in positioning.
Ultimately, a concerted effort involving personnel from SAR, the Port Health Office, the Benoa BTS, and the ship’s agent culminated in the safe evacuation of Liang Hongfei at 12:10 a.m. local time.
Returning to Benoa Port by 12:40 a.m. local time, the injured crew member was promptly transported to the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention.
