At approximately 22:39 on April 25, 2025, a collision occurred in the An Thanh Cape area, upstream of maritime buoy No. 28 on the Saigon – Vung Tau shipping channel, involving the container vessel KMTC SURABAYA (en route from Cat Lai 5 berth – Cat Lai Terminal to Hong Kong) and the vessel GLENGYLE (en route to K12 berth – Saigon Port). The collision caused no casualties and did not affect traffic on the channel. However, due to the nature of the vessels involved – one being an oil tanker and the other a large container ship—and the incident’s proximity to a key navigational buoy on a critical maritime route, there was a high risk of oil spill, channel blockage, and maritime safety hazards. The situation demanded the immediate deployment of a professional emergency response team and the coordinated implementation of rescue, salvage, and environmental protection measures.
The collision caused significant damage to the vessels involved
Immediately after receiving an emergency directive from the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Administration, Tan Cang Maritime Services Joint Stock Company promptly mobilized specialized vessels, modern equipment, and an experienced crew to the scene. From April 26 to May 15, the tugboats Tan Cang A5 and Tan Cang A10 remained on standby at the site, working closely with other rescue forces under the command of the Ho Chi Minh City Port Authority to carry out the emergency rescue operations, ensuring the safety of the two distressed vessels and maintaining uninterrupted traffic on the Saigon – Vung Tau shipping channel. Simultaneously, the tugboat Tan Cang 01 coordinated with Tan Cang Offshore Services Corporation to urgently transport oil spill response equipment to buoy No. 28 and proactively implemented oil spill prevention and response measures to minimize the risk of environmental contamination.
TCMS’s tugboats remained on standby at the scene
After nearly a month of supporting the two vessels in overcoming the incident, by the morning of May 16th, Tan Cang A6 and Tan Cang A10 successfully coordinated with other rescue forces to separate the two damaged ships on the Long Tau River. The tugboats secured cables to both vessels, calculated appropriate pulling angles to separate them, managed the oil spill, and remained moored nearby, ready to handle any arising situations during operations. After the successful separation, KMTC SURABAYA safely anchored at Thieng Lieng buoy and later arrived safely at Hong Kong port on June 4th for cargo discharge. GLENGYLE remained anchored at the channel edge to continue incident handling and offload cargo onto barges to release the ship.
TCMS’s tugboats successfully coordinated with other rescue forces to separate the two vessels
By July 3rd, Tan Cang A9 and Tan Cang A10 (with Tan Cang A10 serving as the main towing vessel) coordinated with other rescue units (Haivanship, Phu My Maritime) to tow the vessel GLENGYLE from its temporary mooring buoy on the Long Tau River to anchorage area F8 in Vung Tau, waiting for the tide. On the morning of July 4th, the towing operation was safely completed, and GLENGYLE berthed at Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port via the Soai Rap channel, marking the end of a nearly 2.5-month-long rescue operation.
The tugboats carried out the towing operation to move the vessel GLENGYLE to anchorage area F8 in Vung Tau
With a strong sense of responsibility, solid professional expertise, and a well-prepared operational plan, Tan Cang Maritime Services Joint Stock Company (TCMS) successfully completed the assigned mission. The company received high praise from the Ho Chi Minh City Maritime Administration and the shipowner for its timely, effective coordination and proactive response efforts. TCMS swiftly implemented countermeasures, successfully contained the oil spill, minimized the risk of environmental damage, and ensured uninterrupted maritime traffic through the area without causing any channel congestion.
Tan Cang A9 towed the vessel GLENGYLE to Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port
The timely and professional involvement of TCMS in the rescue and incident response operations once again affirms its position as a leading enterprise in maritime rescue, towage, and oil spill response in southern Vietnam. This contribution has further strengthened the trust of partners, clients, and regulatory authorities in TCMS’s mission to ensure maritime safety and protect Vietnam’s marine environment.
Video of the towing operation bringing the GLENGYLE vessel safely alongside Saigon Hiep Phuoc Port.
Some images of the vessel rescue operation in progress:
