Four fishermen died while another five are still missing after fishing vessel Shih Hui 31 collided with cement carrier Asia Cement 2 on 18 September off Taiwan.
Asia Cement 2 was en route to Taichung after loading cargo in Hualien when the collision occurred, causing the fishing vessel with nine crew members to capsize.
Divers on 19 September recovered bodies of four fishermen, including 66-year-old Taiwanese captain Chi Wan-te, and one Indonesian and two Chinese fishermen, according to Taiwan’s Marine and Port Bureau.
Asia Cement 2’s owned U-Ming Marine, in a statement, said it would not respond to any speculation on the possible causes of the accident before the bureau concludes its official investigation, although it would fully co-operate with the bureau.
The bureau said that the owner of Shih Hui 31, as well as representatives from U-Ming Marine Transport, Keelung City Government, China Marine Surveyors and Sworn Measurers’ Corp, Coast Guard Administration, Shipowners Mutual Protection Association, Tahan Shipping, and Keelung Area Fishermen’s Association had reached an agreement to tug the capsized boat back to Taipei port for further investigation.
Search and rescue is still under way for the missing fishermen, said the bureau.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
