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The Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (HK MRCC) of the Marine Department is continuing to co-ordinate a search and rescue operation for a cargo ship that sank about 338 nautical miles south of Hong Kong yesterday (November 21), and so far 15 of the ship's 21 crew members have been rescued.
At about 3pm yesterday, a distress alert was received from a Korean-flagged bulk carrier, Bright Ruby, carrying 21 crew members (nine Korean nationals and 12 Myanmar nationals) and steel cargo from Penang, Malaysia, to Rizhao on the Mainland, that sank at the position 16°33'N, 114°00'E in the South China Sea.
Since yesterday afternoon, fixed-wing planes of the Government Flying Service have made three sorties to the scene for the search and rescue operation.
So far, eight ships near the scene have responded to the call of the HK MRCC and have been involved in the operation, picking up 15 crew members.
The search and rescue operation continues for the six crew members who are still missing.
Ends/Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:19
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