Recently, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard successfully conducted a rescue operation, saving 3 crew members from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier "Heilan Star," which had suffered a massive explosion. However, a fourth crew member, a Chinese national, died before rescue arrived.

According to a Navy spokesperson, the rescue operation for the ship, located 230 nautical miles west of Goa, India, began last Friday morning.

Authorities were informed that four crew members on a ship traveling from Saudi Arabia to Singapore needed assistance after an explosion on board left them severely burned and in urgent need of medical attention.

After the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Center alerted the Navy, they immediately mobilized, diverting two ships from their deployment and sending them to the rescue.

A search and rescue helicopter from one of the rescue ships, the Vikrant, performed a challenging winch operation to rescue the three injured crew members, including two Chinese citizens and one Indonesian citizen. The fourth crew member, 40-year-old Liu, died from severe injuries before being rescued.

The rescued individuals were taken to INS Hansa in Goa, where they were transferred to a civilian hospital for further treatment.

Relevant information shows that in January 2025, the Heilan Star departed from Lianyungang Port, China, carrying over a hundred engineering vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

It is reported that under the direction of the Coast Guard, the damaged ship is currently heading to Mormugao Port.

【HEILAN STAR】 is a bulk carrier built in 2011 (14 years old) and currently sails under the Panama flag.

The ship's operator and the Goa maritime department will investigate the cause of the explosion.