A crew member from the disabled containership MSC HERMES III has been medically evacuated off southern Vietnam, in a new development following the rescue of all 25 crew members from the vessel on 22 September 2026.
As previously reported by HMT News, the crew of MSC HERMES III evacuated the ship after it transmitted a distress alert about 300 km east of Vietnam within Singapore’s Maritime Search and Rescue Region. MSC RUBY subsequently recovered all 25 seafarers from a lifeboat, with no injuries reported at the time.
The vessel was later taken under tow toward Vietnam, where further details have emerged about its condition and a separate medical emergency involving a crew member.
Vietnam’s maritime search and rescue authorities received an emergency request from MSC Vietnam on 28 September 2026 after a crew member aboard MSC HERMES III fell and suffered a serious head injury. The seafarer subsequently developed symptoms including vomiting before losing consciousness.
The Liberia-registered vessel, IMO 9350317, was about 30 nautical miles northeast of Vung Tau when the request for medical assistance was made.
Vietnam MRCC dispatched the specialised rescue vessel SAR 272 at 21:15 on 28 September 2026 with two medical personnel from the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard on board. The rescue vessel reached MSC HERMES III at 01:30 on 29 September 2026 and provided initial medical treatment.
SAR 272 returned with the injured seafarer to the Vietnam MRCC Region III facility in Ho Chi Minh City at 06:30 on 29 September 2026. The crew member was then transferred to hospital for further treatment.
VietnamPlus separately reported that the seafarer was suspected of having inhaled toxic gas. VIMAWA and Vietnam MRCC’s official accounts described the incident as a fall resulting in a serious head injury, followed by vomiting and loss of consciousness.
Further information has also emerged about the condition that led to the vessel becoming disabled. Báo Xây dựng, citing the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard, reported that MSC HERMES III experienced a problem with the seawater intake system serving its engine room, leaving the vessel unable to manoeuvre and drifting.
Boka Guard was deployed to assist with towing the containership toward the Vung Tau anchorage, with repairs planned at Phuoc An Port.
Seatrade Maritime separately reported, based on AIS tracking, that MSC HERMES III was being towed toward Vung Tau by TC Mercury and Boka Guard. The 2,490-teu containership had been sailing from Hong Kong to Jakarta when the original distress incident occurred.
Vietnamese authorities have not published a final technical investigation finding on the initial casualty. The latest medical evacuation and reported mechanical problem add further details to the incident following the 22 September 2026 rescue of the vessel’s crew.
