APL Illinois rescuing 30 crew/fishermen safely

  APL Illinois, IMO # 9398230, built 2009, container vessel, owned by the Schulte Group, managed by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and under charter to the American President Line (APL), whilst en-route Singapore received a "Distress" call  on 12th. September at around 2200 hours local time from a sinking Fishing Trawler "CHIN SHANG MEI" in Malacca Strait about 38 miles off the coast. APL Illinois responded immediately to the distress call and concluded a successful operation rescuing all of 30 crew/fishermen safely in the early hours on 13th morning.  No casualties and/or Injuries were reported.

Survivors were finally handed over safely to the Malaysian Maritime Authorities and the Coast Guard for investigation into the incident. The APL Illinois is managed by the Shanghai office of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and its Managing Director, Captain Aaron Ruan commended the crew’s decisiveness and prompt action. He said, “It is a great relief to know that there were no casualties from this incident and we are proud of our crew, who took immediate action to ensure that no lives were lost.  Credit goes to the Captain and the crew of APL Illinois, whose brave actions made a difference to the stranded seafarers and their families.”