BREAKING

39 missing after Chinese fishing vessel capsizes in Indian Ocean

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 May 2023 07:49

Teams from the area are now on the spot, and China has sent the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018 and Yuan Fu Hai, two commercial boats, to aid in the search and rescue effort.

Representative image of a boat (Reuters)

A Chinese fishing vessel has capsized in the central Indian Ocean, with its crew of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian, and five Filipino sailors missing, as per state media.

A multinational search and rescue operation was underway to locate the mariners, and China's Premier urged authorities to strengthen safety measures for fishing operations at sea.

The missing vessel, named Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028, reportedly capsized at about 3 am Beijing time on Tuesday (1900 GMT Monday).

Simultaneously, President Xi Jinping directed the coordinated search, CCTV said, but "so far, no missing persons have been found."

Teams from the area are now on the spot, and China has sent the Lu Peng Yuan Yu 018 and Yuan Fu Hai, two commercial boats, to aid in the effort.

"It is necessary to further strengthen the safety management of fishing vessels at sea and implement preventive measures to ensure the safety of maritime transportation," Premier Li Qiang said, calling on relevant ministries to strengthen oversight of the fishing sector.

Concurrently, Beijing's Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched an "emergency mechanism for consular protection," which included embassies and consulates in Australia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, and the Philippines, among other countries, CCTV reported.

Penglai Jinglu Fishery Co., one of China's major state-run fishing companies, owned the vessel.

According to information from the North Pacific Fishing Commission, it was permitted to fish for Pacific saury and neon flying squid.

The vessel departed Cape Town on May 5 and was headed to Busan when it was last detected on May 10 southeast of the tiny French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.

In foreign seas, such as the Indian Ocean and the regions around Latin America, Penglai Jinglu Fishery also conducts squid and tuna fishing operations.