Monday, April 09, 2007

Alleged Cambodian ship sank off China's coast after collision

April 09, 2007
At least 20 missing after two ships collide

From correspondents in Beijing

TWENTY sailors on a cargo ship were missing after their boat collided with another vessel and sank off eastern China.

The accident occurred in the Taizhou strait off the coast of Zhejiang province, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its website, citing maritime police.

The 3700-tonne cargo ship was identified by its name Harvest, the administration report said. The ship was laden with around 5000 tonnes of steel products when the accident occurred.

Nineteen Chinese sailors and one Indian were aboard the ship when it sank after colliding with the 17,000-tonne Chinese vessel Jinhaikun.

The boat was travelling from China's eastern port of Shanghai to Vietnam, it reported.

Xinhua news agency said the ship was Cambodian, although the administration report said it was registered in Belize.

Officials at the Taizhou maritime police were unable to immediately comment on the accident.

Search vessels were currently searching the area for survivors, Xinhua reported.

The cause of the collision is under investigation.

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