Asia/Pacific News
Vessel Sinks, Evidence of Bunker Spill After MOL Motivator Containership Collision
Officials have spotted evidence of a bunker spill after a cargo vessel sank in Chinese waters southeast of Hong Kong after a collision with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL) containership MOL Motivator, the South China Morning Post reports.
The 6,700 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) capacity MOL Motivator and Zhong Xing 2, which was understood to be carrying cement at the time, collided on May 5 at about 2:30 a.m. local time.
One crew member of the Zhong Xing 2 was rescued by a fishing boat, but another 11 are feared drowned after being trapped on the vessel, as authorities conduct a search-and-rescue mission.
A government sources said poor visibility caused by heavy rain may have contributed to the accident.
"An oil slick was spotted together with debris and some floating rings at the scene but no sign of the missing crews or sunken vessel were found," said Captain Bruce Wong Ho-man, deputy manager of flight operations with the Government Flying Service.
MOL confirmed the incident and said only minor damage to MOL Motivator, which was able to sail under its own power.
The company said authorities are investigating the cause of the collision.
