Indonesian Navy frigate rescues tanker crewman who fell overboard in South China Sea

The Indonesian Navy came to the aid of an adult male who was found adrift in the South China Sea hours after he fell overboard from his ship on Thursday, May 6.

The sailor, identified as a Russian national, had been drifting in the water for eight hours when he was found by the crew of the Indonesian Navy frigate KRI John Lie.

The individual was a crewmember on the Singaporean-flagged product tanker St Katharinen. The navy said the tanker’s captain had sent out a distress call shortly after 00:00 local time on Friday, May 7, saying that one of his crew was missing and is believed to have fallen overboard.

The sailor was located about five nautical miles from the tanker. He was subsequently returned to the ship.

The rescued sailor had contracted hypothermia, though navy officials have assured that his condition is stable.

St Katharinen was sailing from Vladianca, Russia, to Malaysia when the Russian crewman fell overboard.

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