Huayang-Assigned Captain and Crew Successfully Rescue Three Stranded Brazilian Fishermen

On the eve of the 2026 Lunar New Year’s Eve, the MV JAMAICA BAY rescued three Brazilian fishermen about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Praia Mole, Brazil. The three men had drifted at sea for nearly two days after their fishing vessel sank. The rescue fully demonstrates the sense of responsibility and dedication of seafarers, conveying warmth and kindness that transcend national borders.

At 10:12 local time on February 14, the ship’s Third Officer spotted an orange floating object on the sea, suspected to be survivors in distress. Captain Guo Hongtao immediately activated the emergency rescue plan and launched an all-ship search and rescue operation. Taking full account of the on-site sea conditions and navigational environment, the captain made scientific decisions and adopted a single turn maneuver for search and rescue. The crew increased lookouts, stood by engines, and deployed rescue equipment including mooring lines, rescue nets and pilot ladders to continuously locate the survivors. Through the joint efforts of all crew members, the three distressed persons were successfully rescued at 11:30 and confirmed to be in stable physical condition.

It was learned that the three fishermen’s boat sank in the early hours of February 13 local time. They had drifted at sea for more than 30 hours relying only on simple floating debris. After the rescue, the crew of MV JAMAICA BAY provided the survivors with medical treatment, food supplies and resting quarters. They also helped the fishermen contact their families via the ship’s satellite phone. On February 18 local time, the three rescued fishermen were formally handed over to the Brazilian Coast Guard at the port of destination.

The vessel belongs to the Hong Kong PB fleet, and Captain Guo Hongtao is a seafarer dispatched by Huayang. Afterwards, Captain Guo stated that as a captain, leading the crew to save lives and help others return safely at the start of the new year is not only his bounden duty, but also a reflection of reverence for life and protection for safety.

 

【Captain Guo Hongtao graduated from Qingdao Ocean Shipping Marines College in 2007, majoring in Navigation Technology. He joined Huayang as a cadet in the same year and has served on the PB fleet for many years. He commenced service as a probationary captain in May 2024.】