 |
| This picture taken on May 10, 2011 shows the Vinaline Queen cargo ship anchored at Saigon port in Ho Chi Minh City. A Vietnamese cargo boat that vanished near the Philippines on Christmas Day has sunk, killing 22 of its 23 crew members, Vietnam state shipping firm Vinalines said on Friday. (AFP Photo) |
Relatedarticles
- Police Name 4 Suspects as Boat Tragedy Toll Nears 100
- Indonesia Searches for Bodies From Migrant Boat Disaster
- Ship Sinks Off Indonesia; 60 Missing
- Survivors Recall Horror of Indonesia Boat Disaster
- 15 More Survivors Found From E. Java Ship Sinking
Hanoi. AVietnamese cargo boat that vanished near the Philippines on Christmas Day hassunk, killing 22 of its 23 crew members, Vietnam state shipping firm Vinalinessaid on Friday.
“Accordingto our initial information, only one sailor has been rescued and the vessel hasnot been found yet,” a Vinalines official based in Hanoi told AFP, asking notto be named.
TheVinalines Queen disappeared after passing Luzon island and apparently did notsend out a distress signal.
Late onFriday online newspaper Dan Tri reported that the surviving sailor, Dau NgocHung, was rescued by a British ship which was heading towards Singapore.
Vinalinessaid its ship was carrying more than 54,000 tonnes of nickel ore and wastravelling from Indonesia to China when it lost contact.
Vietnamappealed to the Philippines, Taiwan and Japanese coastguards for help infinding the vessel, but had heard nothing from the ship until now.
“We are nowfocussing our efforts on searching for the Vinalines Queen,” the companyofficial added.
Rescueexperts quoted in the local press said emergency equipment in the vessel shouldhave automatically sent SOS signals to satellites and coastal rescue stations.It is not yet clear why none was transmitted.
TheJapanese-built 190 meter Vinalines Queen was one of the largest and most moderncargo ships in the Vietnamese fleet, with a capacity of more than 56,000tonnes. It had been in service for Vinalines since 2005.
VietnamNational Shipping Lines, or Vinalines, is one of the communist country’s mainstate-owned enterprises.
Agence France-Presse
