Twenty-one sailors from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) were rescued by Chinese vessels after their cargo ship
slanted due to water entering its cabins off the coast of east
China's Shandong Province.
The DPRK ship, "Zo Ming 3", leaned Friday afternoon at the sea
about 20 nautical miles north of Weihai port after seawater entered
two cargo cabins, according to the Weihai Maritime Bureau.
The bureau said it received a directive from the China Maritime
Search and Rescue Center around 4:50 p.m. saying the DPRK vessel
was leaning sharply and in danger of sinking and rescue operation
should be immediately launched.
A maritime police vessel rushed to the site to carry out rescue
operation. The bureau also organized vessels passing by to join the
rescue.
The 21 sailors were rescued by four fishing boats from Liaoning
Province around 5:30 p.m. and then transferred to the maritime
police vessel.
The sailors were transported to Weihai port at 11:20 p.m. Friday
and provided with food and accommodation by local government. Their
empty vessel was halted from sinking and is being pulled to the
Weihai port.
(Xinhua News?Agency?December 8, 2007)