Taiwanese freighter sinks after collision with oil tanker: crew of 9 rescued

Taiwan’s coast guard rescued 9 people who were aboard a freighter that sank off Taiwan’s east coast after being hit by a oil tanker shortly after midnight this morning, April 26.

The Taiwanese cargo ship Dafa No.1 was carrying supplies from Fugang Harbor, Taitung to Orchid Island when it was hit by the 42,010 gross-ton Liberian-registered oil tanker Lia (IMO: 9417751) traveling between Kuwait and South Korea.

Keelung Coastal Radio picked up a distress call from the Dafa No.1 saying that the ship was sinking around 4 nautical miles from Fugang Harbor, and that the crew of eight Taiwanese nationals and one Indonesian were preparing to abandon ship and take to a lifeboat.

Taitung coast guard dispatched the 35-ton patrol boat PP-3595 to rescue the crew members, and successfully picked them up at around 1:00 am.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration ordered the Lia to halt while the shipping company was contacted and asked to sign a document stating that they will handle compensation and other matters relating to the incident. At around 6:00 am, the tanker was authorized to continue its course.

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