Tuna fishing vessel TENN MING YANG NO.268 issued distress signal at around 0430 UTC May 7, reporting fire on board, 16 crew going to life rafts, and requesting immediate assistance. Vessel was in vicinity 34 54S 041 50E,Indian ocean, some 630 nm E of Durban, South Africa. MRCC Cape Town and MRCC Taiwan were alerted, MRC Cape Town requested all ships in the area to respond and assist. Nearest to distressed longliner ship responded and steamed to rescue, at around 0700 UTC all 16 fishermen were picked up from life raft, in good health.
TENN MING YANG NO.268 according to latest updates, is still burning, and slowly sinking.
Tuna fishing vessel (longliner) TENN MING YANG NO.268, Call sign BJ4839, GT 100, built 2005, flag Taiwan.
