CHINA / Regional |
Body of Chinese sailor returns to Shanghai(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-07-18 02:59 The body of a Chinese seaman who died when a Panama-registered cargo ship with 22 Chinese on board sank near Guam six days ago, was returned to Shanghai on Monday. Zhan Yibing, 33, from east China's Fujian Province, worked as chief mate on the Tai Tong 7, which sank more than 600 km northwest of Guam due to storms brought by Typhoon Man-yi. His body was pulled out of the sea by a passing U.S.-registered ship R.J. Pfeiffer last Friday. It arrived at the Waigaoqiao Port in Shanghai at 11:45 a.m. Monday and was sent to local funeral home two hours later. Two survivors reached Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province by another U.S.-registered vessel Horizon Falcon earlier Monday. A Bahamian-registered cargo ship Ikan Bilis carrying other survivors was expected to arrive at Japan on Tuesday. Eight survivors who had been taken to Guam are scheduled to fly to Xiamen, in Fujian, on Wednesday. The last survivor and bodies of the other two dead sailors will be sent to Haypoint port in Australia on Saturday. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Communications have ordered local governments to prepare for the reception. The Tai Tong 7, a Chinese-flagged bulk log carrier owned by Fuzhou Haijing Shipping, was on route from Papua New Guinea to China when the cargo began shifting as the vessel encountered 70 mph winds and 24-foot waves, according to survivors. Rescuers are still doing their best to search for the other six missing crew members. Chinese consulates said they would maintain close contact with the U.S. Coast Guard and coordinate closely with U.S. rescue agencies in the search. U.S. officials have pledged full support in the search and promised to identify the three victims as soon as possible. |
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