No more saved in HK ship-barge collision, search continues

THREE seamen are known dead and four men and a woman were still missing and feared drowned after the a ship collision near Hong Kong harbour Tuesday as divers and pilots continued to face choppy seas and strong winds and currents to continue the search, reports the Hong Kong Standard.

All survived aboard the larger, but still small container feeder ship that plies between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The ship was in collision with a sand barge with near Tung Lung Chau capsized trapping crew in cabins below the wheel house where divers found the body of one mainland seaman tangled in his bedding.


Five other mainlanders, four men and a woman, remain missing and are feared drowned. "So far, one male body was discovered inside the accommodation structure at about noon," said Fire Services divisional commander Kwan Kam-wing.


After the barge, the Runz 001, capsized all of the 14 crew fell into the waters without lifejackets, reported the South China Morning Post. The Marine Department said a crane barge would be deployed to stabilise the wreckage.


The ship, Hui Jin Qiao 08, bound for Shantou from Tsing Yi container terminal, was was carrying chemicals and is thought to have changed its direction before the accident, said the SCMP.


A government officer said the crew on the ship claimed that it changed direction because an automatic identification system had broken down. The Hong Kong Marine Department, which performs the harbour master function, said it would conduct a full investigation.

"Divers were able to penetrate to the main deck level of the sunken vessel. There is a lot of debris and personal belongings inside the accommodation deck. We will try to clear the floating objects and make a complete search inside," he said.


On the air search, chief pilot Wu Wai-hung said that two helicopters were searching for survivors along the south coast of Tung Lung Chau, but Force 6-7 winds from the north hampered efforts and limited visibility to six to seven kilometres, China Daily reported.


Six seamen were taken from the water safely while another was found later in the day.


It is the worst marine accident in local waters since March 2008, when a Ukrainian tugboat collided with a mainland bulk carrier off Lantau, leaving 18 seamen dead.