Eight seafarers from a fishing vessel are feared dead after a collision involving a SITC International Holdings-operated container ship off China.
The missing crew were from the trawler Yuenan Aoyu 36062, which sank after coming into contact with the 1,005-teu feeder vessel SITC Danang (built 2000).
Caixin Global reported that the accident happened on Wednesday, 22 nautical miles (40 km) south-west of Ledong Li in Hainan province.
The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration said in a statement that search and rescue authorities scoured an area of ocean measuring nearly 6,000 square miles.
A total of 21 rescue ships and five aircraft were used.
But by Saturday night, no sign of the missing crew members had been found.
The container ship is chartered by Hong Kong’s SITC and owned by Shoei Kisen of Japan.
Search and rescue officials told the China Daily that the wreck had been located using sonar and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
Video imagery of the hull confirmed the trawler’s identity.
Dangerous search operation
But a combination of strong currents and loose fishing nets around the ship had made it too difficult for divers to search.
The cause of the accident remained under investigation.
The SITC Danang had left Qinzhou in China on 2 April, bound for the domestic Sanya anchorage.
The last AIS update from three days ago showed the vessel moored at Sanya.
According to data from Equasis, port state control inspectors have not reported any faults with the ship since 2018.
The feeder vessel has insurance coverage from the London P&I Club in the UK, and it is classed by NKK in Japan.
SITC has been contacted for comment.
