On May 2, 1993, the mainland's scientific research ship "Xiangyanghong 16" was rammed and sank by the Cypriot-flagged cargo ship "Silver Horn" off the coast of Jeju Island, South Korea. The incident not only resulted in the destruction of the vessel, but also the casualties of many crew members on board. In the accident, the "Silver Horn" did not provide assistance and even refused to provide compensation to the mainland crew. Is all this a coincidence or a conspiracy? This article will discuss the accident process, the rescue process, and the causes of the incident.
The story begins at the moment of the accident. At that time, the sea area of Jeju Island in South Korea was foggy and visibility was extremely low. Captain Jin Mingqi was worried about the unexpected situation, so he personally sat in the wheelhouse. However, the unexpected happened. A loud bang broke the silence in the wheelhouse, the boat shook violently, and Jin Mingqi realized that something was wrong. When he went out to the deck, he saw a scene that he would never forget: a huge foreign freighter had been inserted into the rear of the mainland research ship, forming a gap five meters in diameter, and seawater was constantly seeping into the cabin. The foreign freighter "Silver Horn" did not stay in place, but quickly retreated one nautical mile, exposing the gap of "Xiangyanghong 16" to the sea, and the sea water poured into it frantically. In less than half an hour, the research ship sank to the bottom of the sea, and the lives of all crew members were in danger.
In this process, Jin Mingqi has been asking for help from the "Silver Horn", hoping that the other party can provide humanitarian assistance to our crew in accordance with international practice. However, the Silver Horn always refused to provide assistance and refused to pay compensation in subsequent negotiations. This caused anger and dissatisfaction among all the crew. During the period of being trapped, the crew faced a shortage of food, water, and lost ties with their homeland.
The Chinese government acted swiftly to send the rescue vessel Deutschland to the rescue and diplomatically demanded Cyprus' cooperation in the return of the trapped crew. However, the Silver Horn refused to return the crew and refused to return it in its place, citing the presence of flammable and explosive materials on board. In the end, the Deutschland could only wait for instructions while following behind the Silver Horn.
After difficult negotiations, the Silver Horn agreed to return the crew and eventually bring them back to their homeland safely. However, it was already too late. In addition to material damage, the crew lost the lives of three crew members.
Looking back on the shipwreck, although the behavior of the "Silver Horn" is outrageous, from the perspective of international practice, the other side did not operate in violation of regulations. The root cause of the accident was the negligence and illegal operation of the mainland crew. At that time, the fog was thick, and the crew did not notice the approaching "Silver Horn", and the radar warning system on the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship was turned off, resulting in a collision between the two sides. If the crew had been more attentive and cautious, this accident might not have happened.
However, the accident has taught us many valuable lessons. First and foremost, the strength of the State is the basis for ensuring that it is treated fairly. Secondly, in addition to excellent technique, care and patience are equally important. Sailing requires constant vigilance, attention to detail and not letting go of the slightest mistake. The most important thing is to learn the lesson of this time and constantly improve our own quality and technology to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
All in all, the shipwreck, while it has taken us a lot of losses, has also taught us many valuable lessons. By learning the lessons, we can better prevent similar incidents from happening and ensure the safety of maritime navigation. Let us cherish the lives of each and every one of our crew members and ensure their safe return.
