A Chinese-flagged container ship sank early this morning while underway off Guangzhou port taking all of its eight crew members with it.
Fortunately, the crew was plucked out of the water in time by patrol boats, dispatched by Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration to the scene, Xinhua news agency reports.
The ship, identified as Xin Hong 328, was underway toward Nansha port’s Dongfa pier from Hong Kong when it started to sink. It was loaded with 72 containers, Xinhua said.
According to the Maritime Safety Administration, salvage operation of the containers that fell into the water is underway.
A traffic control has been imposed in the area as the containers pose navigational hazard.
The cause of the sinking has not been disclosed.
World Maritime News Staff