At approximately 2130 EST, reports began to emerge of a Chinese fishing vessel, the LU PENG YUAN YU 028 (LPY28), that had capsized and sunk in the Indian Ocean. 39 sailors including 17 Chinese, 17 Indian, and 5 Filipino citizens were confirmed missing.
By 2145 EST, Chinese state-owned media had confirmed that President Xi Jinping ordered the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 108 and COSCO registered Yuan Fu Hai vessels to search the ships last known position. The Chinese government had also engaged Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, the Phillipines, and Indonesia to aid in the search. The official message from CCTV reads:
“Xi Jinping made important instructions on the capsize of a Chinese-going fishing boat in the central Indian Ocean#] At about 3 a.m. on May 16, the Chinese-going fishing boat “Lupeng Yuanyu 028” belonging to Penglai Jinglu Fisheries Co., Ltd. capsized in the central Indian Ocean, and 39 people on board were lost contact, including 17 Chinese crew 17 Indonesians and 5 Filipinos. So far, no missing personnel have been found, and the search and rescue work is in progress.
After the accident, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the State and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made important instructions that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and Shandong Province should immediately activate the emergency response mechanism, verify the situation, send more rescue forces, coordinate international maritime search and rescue assistance, and make every effort The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my relevant embassies abroad should strengthen contact with relevant local parties and coordinate the search and rescue work. It is necessary to further strengthen the investigation of potential safety hazards and early warning of ocean-going operations to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
Li Qiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Premier of the State Council, gave instructions, requiring the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Transport to coordinate relevant forces to search and rescue the crew in distress and do their best to reduce casualties. It is necessary to further strengthen the safety management of fishing vessels at sea, implement preventive measures, and ensure the safety of maritime transportation and production.
In accordance with Xi Jinping’s instructions and Li Qiang’s requirements, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and Shandong Province have launched an emergency response mechanism to make every effort to organize the “Lupeng Yuanyu 018” ship and the COSCO Shipping “Yuanfuhai” ship to reach the lost sea area to carry out rescue. In addition, relevant China Maritime Search and Rescue Center will inform relevant countries, Australia and other countries of maritime search and rescue forces to search and rescue at the scene. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched an emergency mechanism for consular protection, and quickly deployed embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries to coordinate active search and rescue in relevant countries.”
The ship has been registered under the Chinese flag since 2017 and is tasked with fishing for Neon Flying Squid and Pacific Saury. The vessel left Capetown on May 5th, en route to Busan and capsized South of Maldives.
