Chinese maritime search and rescue forces are helping the search
for a Russian ship which has been missing in the East China Sea,
Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The maritime search and rescue center of China's Ministry of
Communications was informed last Thursday that a Russian boat with
17 crew went missing in sea area about 212 nautical miles east of
Shanghai, according to a statement of the ministry.
The ship was traveling from Japan's Hokkaido to Hong Kong, but
it failed to arrive at the destination on last Thursday as
scheduled, it said.
The Chinese search center launched emergency rescue plans for
the missing crew, and tried to use maritime satellite to locate the
vessel, but no clues have been found.
Maritime authorities in Yantai, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hainan
have coordinated vessels that are sailing in the area to assist the
search. A professional rescue ship "East China Sea Rescue-No. 196"
has departed for the area where the Russian boat made its last
radio contact.
The foreign ministry's statement said in view of the strategic
partnership of coordination between the two countries and
humanitarian spirit, the Chinese side will take active measures and
continue the search.
(Xinhua News Agency January 29, 2008)