On the way to the Pacific Ocean to carry out a survey of polymetallic mineral resources on the seabed, the Chinese scientific research vessel "Xiangyanghong 16" was hit by the Cypriot "Silver Horn" freighter in the East China Sea at 5:05 a.m. on May 2, 1993, and unfortunately sank. And behind this incident, how much is enough to make people ponder for a long time?!
Human beings have not only explored the vast sky, but have never given up the oceans, which account for 3/5 of the earth's area. Ships have appeared in the world for thousands of years. As early as primitive times, rudimentary water transport tools had brought humans from land into the waters. It is precisely in the process of continuous exploration that people have acquired water-based knowledge, mastered ferry technology, and developed the cause of marine navigation. However, the voyage was not smooth sailing, and shipwrecks occurred from time to time, leaving many scars behind the thrilling sailing feats of mankind.
Many causes such as war, storm, tsunami, overload, mechanical failure, maneuvering error, collision, fire... And so on, can lead to shipwrecks. Common collisions, in particular, can lead to shipwrecks. As we all know, trains gallop on railroad tracks and cars fly on highways, they all have their own routes and tracks, drivers and are able to see their own tracks and routes. But the ships are different, there is neither a track nor a smooth "road" under their huge bodies, and their routes are painted on the chart. Navigators can only measure and calculate through a variety of nautical instruments and equipment, so that ships can maintain safe navigation on the route. If a ship deviates from course, it will not only take a detour, but will also encounter shoals and reefs. Collisions may occur if it snows and fog, the field of vision is unclear, the navigation aid equipment fails, the equipment on board suddenly loses control, all parties do not comply with the rules of avoiding collisions at sea, and operational errors are possible. Because the ship can not take sharp braking measures on the water, especially in the case of inertia and impulse distance, there is a risk of collision.
Several famous examples, such as the autumn of 1921, a well-known ocean-going ship "Olympic", while sailing at sea, met a much smaller ironclad cruiser "Hauk", the two were only 100 meters apart, and in the process of traveling, the "Hauk" suddenly turned the bow of the ship due to the strong pressure of the outside sea, rushed to the giant ship, and as a result, the "Olympic" ship had a large hole in the side. The famous Titanic luxury passenger liner sank after hitting an iceberg, killing nearly 1,200 people. Such examples are not uncommon. How many ships in the world have sunk? How many casualties and property damage were caused? It is difficult to calculate accurate figures, but one thing everyone acknowledges is that water transport has a greater safety factor than aviation, roads, and railways.
In the early 1980s, in order to carry out sacred scientific research and research, the State Oceanic Administration of China invested heavily in the construction of a 4500-ton scientific research vessel and named it "Xiangyanghong 16". Xiangyanghong No. 16 is the most advanced ocean-going survey ship in the world at that time, the whole ship has 14 professional laboratories such as hydrology, meteorology, geophysics, chemistry, biology, geology, etc., equipped with the most advanced large and medium-sized professional survey instruments and equipment in the world, and new equipment is being added and replaced every year. In 1993, hundreds of thousands of dollars were added to the deep-sea winch. The scientific achievements of the "Xiangyanghong 16" are numerous and have achieved encouraging results. It has made several trips to the Pacific Ocean for scientific expeditions to polymetallic nodules in the Pacific, and has made positive contributions to China's qualification as an "International Pioneer Investor in Seabed Prospecting" approved by the United Nations in March 1991.
According to the established marine scientific expedition plan, at 11 o'clock on April 30, 1993, the well-equipped ocean-going research vessel once again left Shanghai Port and began the 6th deep-sea exploration and research voyage of polymetallic nodules in the Pacific Ocean. When the ambitious Xiangyanghong 16 sailed high into the vast Pacific Ocean for the sixth time, no one could have imagined that this outstanding scientific research ship would continue to write a glorious record for 12 years and end tragically on May 2, 1993.
In the early morning of May 2, the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship sailed to the operation sea area according to the predetermined route. At about 5 a.m., sail at latitude 29°12′ N and longitude 124°28′ E. At this time, the visibility at sea was low, most of the crew and expedition members were still asleep, and the sudden violent shaking was accompanied by a loud noise, which woke everyone up. Only to see the bow of a huge 17,670-ton outer ship embedded into the cabin from the rear of the starboard side of the "Xiangyanghong 16". The rear half of the hull was badly damaged, the engine room was flooded with water, the hull tilted, and the stern sank rapidly. All the lighting on the ship went out, and it fell into darkness. The nose of the Bow of the Cypriot Freighter Silver Horn was crashing into the cabin of the Sunny Red 16. The Silver Horn quickly reversed, causing seawater to pour into the cabin of the Xiangyanghong 16.
In the wheelhouse, Captain Jin Mingqi immediately commanded the personnel and took emergency measures. At 5:08 a.m., satellite markers were released, and at 5:10 p.m., abandoning the ship was dispatched to the entire ship. However, due to the water in the engine room, the whole ship has been cut off, and the emergency power supply has been destroyed, so the bell of the abandoned ship deployment was suddenly stopped after only two rings. The crew and scientists who were awakened in their sleep, at this critical juncture when the ship was destroyed and killed, were not in danger, and in accordance with the requirements of the abandonment of the ship, they quickly took self-help actions.
Electrician Yang Wenyou quickly picked up a large plate hand and a screwdriver. Because he understands that these two tools may play a role in helping people get out of danger. Jiang Rubin, the director of affairs, snatched out some valuable public property. While hoisting the lifeboat, sailor He Lianrong picked up the Taiping Axe and cut the fixed rope, which won valuable time for the boat to launch. Of the 4 lifeboats on board, two have been destroyed and only two are usable. In order to save the marine scientists, the crew took the initiative to let the scientists board the lifeboat first.
At 5:25, captain Jin Mingqi, commander Zhang Zhiting, and deputy chief engineer Zhou Banghan left the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship in the last batch. At 5:40 a.m., the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship sank at latitude 29°11′6′ north and longitude 124°28′3′ E. Of the 110 crew members and marine scientific and technological personnel who went to sea with the ship, except for 3 people who were unfortunately killed, 107 people were fortunate to escape from danger.
At about 7 o'clock, Jin Lide, a Chinese newspaper operator who had just boarded the "Silver Horn" in Cyprus, dialed the telephone of Chen Peide, director of the East China Sea Branch of the State Oceanic Administration, via satellite and reported the wreck's passing.
When reviewing this shipwreck, the escapee personnel of the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship did not understand the behavior of the Cypriot "Silver Horn" ship in seeing death and not saving it.
They reported that after the "Silver Horn" ship crashed the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship, it took the wrong measure of rapidly reversing, thereby accelerating the speed of the "Xiangyanghong 16" into the water and causing the ship to sink rapidly; when the ship was dispatched to abandon the ship, the people in distress boarded the lifeboat, the personnel were seriously overloaded, and the small boat lost power, when they hoped that the "Silver Horn" ship would release the lifeboat to rescue, they not only did not let the boat save lives, but also did not agree to board the ship, and the escapeees' request to contact China through the ship's radio was also rejected Even the minimum international practice was unwilling to comply, and after many negotiations, the Captain of the Cypriot side exchanged maritime confirmation certificates with the Chinese captain.
On the "Silver Horn" ship, the "Xiangyanghong 16" ship escapee personnel once proposed that the "Silver Horn" ship should sail to the nearest Coastal Port of China in the spirit of humanitarianism and international practice to rescue the seriously injured. After many negotiations, the ship pretended to agree to sail near the port of Shanghai on the one hand; on the other hand, it sailed at a low speed to South Korea.
At 7:30 a.m., yan Hongmo, director of China's State Oceanic Administration, learned of the bad news of the sinking of the Xiangyanghong 16 ship, and rescue work and diplomatic work began almost at the same time.
At 9:30 a.m., the Silver Horn continued its voyage, with South Korea ahead. The site of the accident was only a 10-hour voyage from Zhoushan, China, and more than 30 hours to South Korea. The Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China had to issue instructions via marine radio to the Ocean-Going Ship Deyi, which had just returned from a mission, to catch up with the Silver Horn.
At 21:30 on May 2, the "German-Italian" caught up with the "Silver Horn". The Chinese offered to hand over the people in distress at sea as soon as possible, but the Silver Horn did not agree, but turned to continue sailing, targeting Japan.
After repeated negotiations, the transfer was finally successful at 10:47 on May 4 at 3-5 nautical miles southwest of Jeju Island.
On the morning of May 5, the "German-Italian" ship carried 107 rescued people in distress to Shanghai Port safely, where they were warmly welcomed and properly placed.
The survivors of the Xiangyanghong 16 have always had difficulty understanding the silver horn's disregard for international practice and humanitarian principles. However, one thing has always been clear in their hearts: China's marine science and technology personnel will not bow their heads in the face of disasters and setbacks, and they will strive harder with more enthusiasm and harder to create a more brilliant tomorrow for China's marine science investigation.