The cement carrier “Xing Shun No 1” sank on October 31 on the east side of the Changhua channel in the Taiwan Strait, and 12 crew members are missing.
A search and rescue operation is now taking place off Taiwan to find the 12 of the total 17 crew members. After the vessel sank, five seafarers abandoned it, and were successfully rescued, having made it to lifeboats. They were later rescued by a passing container ship.
In the meantime, Taiwanese authorities informed that two empty lifeboats had been spotted. Originally, the cement carrier was carrying 20 crew, but three had to disembark earlier for medical treatment after being injured on 30 October.
A day later, “Xing Shun No 1” lost power 14 miles off Lizhuoshuixi. What is more, a rescue vessel also joined Air Crew Corps in searching for the missing seafarers.
