South Korean bulker rescues 23 crew members in distress, Indian Ocean

A South Korean-flagged bulk carrier has rescued all 23 crew members aboard a vessel that had started taking on water and required assistance.

The 2011-built bulk carrier Maple Harbour and her crew participated in the rescue of the crew from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Run Fu 3 while navigating through the Indian Ocean on the morning of June 11, according to C Transport Maritime (CTM), which currently commercially manages the Maple Harbour and is part of the company’s supramax RSA Fleet from Stone Shipping Ltd’s chartered-in fleet of vessels.

While transiting the Indian Ocean, the crew of the Maple Harbour received an urgent message from the Run Fu 3 at 02:45 am local time.

“The Run Fu 3 reported that one of its holds had started taking on water and required assistance,” CTM said in its statement on June 11 on the company’s website.

Upon learning that they were the closest vessel available, the crew of the Maple Harbour changed course to meet the Run Fu 3 and arrived at her location around 5:30 am