TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Coast Guard Administration (海巡署), Taiwan's maritime law enforcement agency, launched a daring 5-day rescue mission in the high seas after the Fisheries Agency (漁業署) reported a medical emergency on the Taiwanese fishing vessel "Lian Sheng Chyun" (連昇群) on July 12. The ship's captain suffered a suspected case of cellulitis in his left calf (a deep skin infection caused by bacteria), prompting a call for urgent medical assistance. The rescue operation was complicated by recent typhoons in the region, demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to protecting its maritime workers across dangerous international waters.
The boat was positioned around 1,600 nautical miles (2,963 km) outside Taiwan's search and rescue jurisdiction, leading the Coast Guard to request help from Japan. Typhoon Nari (百合颱風) thwarted these efforts, however, forcing Taiwan to rely on its own resources. The Coast Guard dispatched a Cheng Kung-class frigate (成功艦) on July 16 to assist the rescue, demonstrating Taiwan's naval capabilities in international maritime emergency response operations. The frigate deployment highlighted the challenges of conducting rescue missions in remote Pacific waters during typhoon season.
The frigate met the Lian Sheng Chyun by July 18 at approximately 2 p.m., but the effects of Typhoon Wipha (薇帕颱風) prevented a direct transfer. The crew used a line-throwing device to deliver medication to the fishing vessel and provided escort protection instead during the dangerous weather conditions. Sea conditions improved on July 20, allowing the frigate to transfer the injured captain on board and hasten toward Hualien port. The two-day delay demonstrated the challenging nature of maritime rescues during Taiwan's typhoon season.
The frigate made contact with an Airborne Service Corps helicopter around 4:30 p.m., which hoisted up the injured captain from the naval vessel. The helicopter landed in Hualien by 5 p.m., and the captain received treatment at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital (花蓮慈濟醫院). The captain expressed gratitude for the success of the 5-day rescue operation, which covered over 1,100 nautical miles (2,037 km) and required collaboration between the Coast Guard and the National Airborne Service Corps (空勤總隊). The complex rescue demonstrated Taiwan's coordinated emergency response capabilities across multiple agencies.