"We're about to run out of food and water." On a foreign cargo ship detained in the waters off Nansha, Guangzhou, a Burmese crew member who spoke fluent Chinese clasped his hands together in gratitude. His eyes welled with emotion as he said, "We are truly grateful for the emergency supplies you brought us!"

 Recently, the Guangzhou Maritime Court (GZMC), in coordination with the Guangzhou Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) and the Guangzhou Huangpu International Seamen's Club (GHISC), and with the full support of the Shajiao Office of the Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration, successfully delivered more than 1,000 pounds and over 300 packages of emergency relief supplies to the Togolese-flagged general cargo vessel RAMBLER STAR. The operation effectively alleviated a critical shortage of food and drinking water faced by the ship's eight crew members.

The story traces back to a dramatic incident in December 2024.

At that time, the RAMBLER STAR suffered a sudden total power outage and lost control while navigating the channel. Misfortune followed swiftly. The drifting vessel collided violently with the Liberian-flagged container ship CA NAGOYA near the entrance to a divided channel, causing a severe breach on the portside bow. 

A salvage company launched immediate emergency operations, and the associated costs led to subsequent legal disputes. In January 2025, GZMC, acting upon the salvage company's application, lawfully detained the RAMBLER STAR near Guishan Island. 

On April 11, in response to a strong wind warning in the Pearl River Estuary and to safeguard the safety of the vessel and its crew, the RAMBLER STAR was relocated to a temporary anchorage near Tianhou Temple in Nansha.

However, a far more urgent crisis was just beginning. The vessel carried eight crew members—seven from Myanmar and one from Indonesia—who were abruptly cut off from vital supplies by the shipowner. Upon learning of the situation, GZMC immediately boarded the vessel for inspection and was met with a distressing sight: the refrigerator stood empty, with only two days' worth of food and four days of drinking water remaining. The crew had been surviving on just two meals a day, relying on collected rainwater for drinking. 

Matters were further complicated by the rapidly approaching May Day holiday, less than 36 hours away. The short window significantly increased the logistical difficulty of transporting supplies and mobilizing personnel. 

Thus began a race against time for a cross-border humanitarian mission.

The court acted swiftly, reaching out to multiple parties for support. After tireless coordination, GFTU agreed to provide emergency relief, rekindling hope for the stranded crew. But delivering aid to a detained foreign vessel presented significant challenges: coordinating transport ships, securing boarding permits, and clearing supply inspections—all under immense time pressure. 

Every second counted. GZMC staff worked through the night, collaborating closely with maritime authorities, border inspection, and customs agencies to establish an emergency "green channel" for expedited delivery.

On the afternoon of April 30, Nansha Port became the launching point for a mission of vital importance. GHISC first transported the supplies to Phase I of the Nansha Container Terminal. There, a temporary logistics team composed of staff from GZMC and GFTU carefully loaded the materials onto a maritime patrol vessel. One hour later, the vessel approached the RAMBLER STAR, where the crew emerged from their cabins, waving excitedly. Upon receiving the supplies, smiles spread across their faces as they expressed heartfelt gratitude with enthusiastic thumbs-ups. 

This heartwarming international relief effort not only resolved the crew's urgent needs but also demonstrated the compassion and commitment of China's judicial system.