UPDATE: MOL Motivator Collision Leaves an Oil Slick, 11 Crew Feared Dead
An oil slick was spotted at the scene of a sunken cargo ship Zhong Xing 2, which went down yesterday morning after being hit by the MOL-operated containership MOL MOTIVATOR, southeast of Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Government Flying Service.
One crew member of Zhong Xing 2 was rescued by a nearby fishing vessel while the other eleven members of the crew are still missing.
The Guangdong Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre is coordinating the search and rescue operation for the missing crew members, which are feared to have been trapped inside when the collision occurred, thus preventing them from abandoning the vessel in time.
Low visibility, combined with heavy rain were said to have had contributed to the accident, however an ongoing investigation by the local authorities is yet to prove if this was true.
The MOL MOTIVATOR was inflicted with minor damage, and was capable of sailing under its own power. The container vessel (6,700 TEU-type) was en route from Hong Kong to Yantian, China and was carrying 24 seafarers on board, MOL said.
Press Release, May 6, 2014; Image: Shipspotting
