Uni-Pacific set sail from Jakarta for Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepasort, (PTP) Port Klang in Malaysia on the noon of June 16. At about 1600 hours, the on-duty Chief Mate Mr. Y. T. Tai observed that at some 56 nautical miles from Jakarta's Northeast several people were floating on a raft and had moved the life buoys calling for help at the port bow of Uni-Pacific.
Mr. Tai immediately notified Captain P. C. Fan who broadcast to all crew to prepare for the lifesaving effort. Captain Fan took command on the navigation bridge and positioned the ship the rescue site in the shortest time to execute the rescue in rough seas with the potential risk of walruses. Captain Fan launched line-throwing apparatus to save the initial survivor at 1800 and within less than 15 minutes, Uni-Pacific saved all seven nearly drowned Indonesia seamen safe and sound with no casualties.
All were then accommodated on board the ship headed to PTP as scheduled. Staff at the Indonesian Consulate in Malaysia assisted in sending them home.
This brave action was praised by Indonesian authorities who also acknowledged that the Evergreen Line crew placed themselves at risk to save the nearly doomed seafarers. The Uni-Pacific crew also received deep appreciation from those rescued seafarers.
'In the true tradition of seafarers the Uni-Pacific crew imagined themselves in the same situation and placed themselves on danger as well to rescue their seafaring brothers,' said an Evergreen spokesperson.
Evergreen Marine Corporation said that the Indonesian seamen were the crew of a small cargo ship named NUR MUDERA with capacity of 59 tons. The stormy seas resulted in the sinking of the smaller vessel.
The Uni-Pacific, Evergreen Line's P-type vessel, which provides feeder services to major Southeast Asia ports was on its regular routing when it fortunately came within view of the disaster and the alert crew was able to perform the lifesaving mission.
