A Chinese navy ship gave medical help to the injured Master of a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden. Chinese state media reported it on 4 and 5 November 2026. The reports say it happened "recently" but do not give the exact date.
The merchant ship is called Zhongdamen (中达门 in Chinese). It was sailing under the protection of the Chinese navy's 49th escort group. This group protects ships from pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia, state radio CNR reports.
What happened
The Master's hand was crushed while he was working. The ship had only basic medical supplies and could not treat the injury properly. So the ship sent an email to the escort group to ask for medical help. This is according to a post by the navy's Southern Theater Command.
The escort group sent its supply ship Luomahu to meet the merchant ship. A small boat took the Master across to the navy ship. In its sick bay, the medical team removed a damaged nail and cleaned the wound. They disinfected it and put on a sterile dressing.
After the treatment, the injury was under control, the navy says. The medics explained how to care for the wound while it heals. They also gave him medicine against inflammation and pain. Then the boat took him back to his ship. Chinese state TV CCTV also showed the rescue in its news.
The 49th escort group left Sanya, in southern China, on 12 August 2026. It has three ships: the destroyer Kunming, the frigate Yueyang and the supply ship Luomahu.
What it means for crews
Hand and finger injuries are among the most common injuries on board. Most ships have no doctor. A small injury can become serious if it is not treated well. Here is what helps.
Keep hands away from pinch points: doors, hatch covers, winches, wires, chain and moving machinery. Wear the right gloves for the job.
Stop work and tell the officer of the watch at once when someone is hurt. Give first aid from the ship's medical guide.
For anything more than a small cut, get free radio medical advice. A rescue coordination centre can usually connect you to a doctor. Many countries also run a medical advice service for ships by radio, phone or email.
Before you call, write down the person's age, what happened, where it hurts, pulse, breathing and any medicine already given. Take clear photos of the injury if you can send them.
If the doctor says the person needs treatment the ship cannot give, ask the rescue centre about a medical evacuation. In waters with navy patrols, warships can sometimes help, as in this case.
Keep the medicine chest complete and in date, and know where the stretcher and first aid kits are. Officers with medical duties should keep their medical training up to date.
Read how India's Coast Guard took an injured fisherman off his boat near Jafrabad. Official helplines and certificate checks are on our useful links for seafarers page.
Cover photo: Chinese navy warships during a visit to Helsinki, Finland, in August 2017. Illustrative photo, not taken in the Gulf of Aden. Photo: Kahvilokki/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sources: CNR (China National Radio) military channel: The 49th Chinese navy escort group treats an injured person at sea (4 Nov 2026), PLA Southern Theater Command post via Sina: 49th escort group treats crew member of escorted merchant ship (5 Nov 2026), CCTV news video: 49th escort group treats merchant ship crew member in the Gulf of Aden (8 Nov 2026).
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