Stricken by tsunami due to the strong M9.0 earthquake in Japan, the 40000t container, which is 242m long and 32.24m breadth, loading 2200 containers lost control at Kushiro Port of Hokkaido in Japan, the stern collided with the jetty for several times and the propeller and rudder blade were badly damaged, so the vessel could not self-propelled. Because of the potential threat of Fukushima nuclear power plant and the after-shock, the 24 crews’ life was in great danger.

On 10:30 of 14th Mar, the tug “DE YUE”, who was just executing task in Dalian at that time, started contingency plan and made towing plan once she received instruction. She set sail on 21:30 of 15th from Dalian for Kushiro Port of Hokkaido in Japan and arrived on 21th. On 19:50 of 23rd , “LONG MU WAN” was towed to the outer anchorage of Kushiro Port by Japanese harbor tug , on 20:20 “DE YUE” successfully connected mooring rope to “LONG MU WAN” and on 11:20 of 4th Apr the casualty was towed to Changhang Ship yard by “DE YUE”.

This transnational recue last for 21 days and navigated 2800 nautical miles, the tug and the casualty finally arrived at the ship yard after discharging in Pusan of Korea. Depending on the exquisite towing technology, “De Yue ” overcome the difficulty of yawing and successfully completed the rescue towing of “LONG MU WAN”.