Chinese rescuers have tugged a bulk carrier with a defunct
engine into safe waters, saving all 33 foreign crew members on
board, said the Ministry of Communications on Wednesday.
The Saint Vincent-registered bulker "Tianjin", carrying 25 crew
members from Sri Lanka and eight from India, as well as 30,000 tons
of stone materials, suffered a sudden engine breakdown 40 nautical
miles east of Taiwan's Yilan city on Sunday when typhoon Krosa
swept through the area, said Song Jiahui, head of China's Rescue
and Salvage Bureau under the ministry.
It is still unclear where the ship was heading.
"The bulker was in danger of sinking or hitting rocks," said
Song.
The typhoon drove the powerless freighter 110 nautical miles
away from its original spot, when China's rescue team found the
vessel, Song said.
With the help of Taiwan's salvage association, the bulker is
expected to reach Taiwan's Hualian port on Wednesday night, where
it will be repaired.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)