Maritime authorities in south China's Guangdong Province have been searching for a fishing boat with seven people on board that was reported missing late Friday.

The boat, registered in the port city of Zhanjiang, set sail Thursday, said a statement from the city's maritime rescue center.

Families called the fishermen, all of whom were natives of Zhanjiang, at around 9 p.m. Friday, only to find their cell phones were off. Family members said the boat was heading to Wenchang County, Hainan Province, said the statement.

At the families' request, the rescue center and city fishery department dispatched 10 rescue vessels and a helicopter around midnight Friday to search for the vessel.

The search entered a third day Monday, but no progress has been reported.