Vp-Asphalt-2 Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On December 7, 2014, a tragic incident unfolded in the waters near Singapore when Tran Duc Dat, a Vietnamese seafarer aboard the tanker 'VP Asphalt 2', succumbed to injuries inflicted by pirates. Earlier that day, at approximately 4:30 a.m., a group of armed assailants hijacked the vessel, located around 60 nautical miles off the coast of Singapore. The 'VP Asphalt 2', transporting 2,300 tons of liquid asphalt from Singapore to Dong Nai, became a target for these criminals. During the hijacking, the crew of 16 was bound, while the pirates ransacked their quarters and cargo hold for an entire hour. By 5:30 a.m., the attackers had left the ship, leaving crew members to discover Dat in a coma, suffering from a severe gunshot wound to his head. The crew quickly alerted the Vietnam Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC), which provided immediate first aid instructions and requested assistance from Singaporean search and rescue forces. At 9:40 a.m., Dat was airlifted by helicopter to Singapore, where he was met by medical professionals. Tragically, despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead by noon on the same day due to the fatal wound. Following the harrowing event, the 'VP Asphalt 2' returned to Singapore to report the incident to local authorities. This incident echoes a previous attack on another Vietnamese vessel, the 'Sunrise 689', which faced a similar threat on October 2 while transporting 5,226 tons of oil from Horizon Port in Singapore to Cua Viet Port in Quang Tri, Vietnam. The alarming frequency of piracy in these waters raises concerns regarding maritime safety and the security of international shipping routes.