China Coast Guard had rescued 17 Filipino crew members by 6 pm on January 23 after a cargo ship capsized in the South China Sea.

K Line said authorities have formally ended the search and rescue operation following the January incident involving its dry bulk carrier Devon Bay while the vessel was en route to Yangjiang, China with a cargo of nickel ore, according to Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd.  The operation concluded at 21:07 local time on 1 February, with all group vessels that had been assisting stood down in line with the authorities’ decision.  The company confirmed fatalities among crew members and said others remain unaccounted for. 

Inquiries remain under way.

K Line said it is continuing to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities and the ship manager in ongoing investigations and will make no public comment on the cause while inquiries remain under way.  

Rescued 17 Filipino crew 

It is noteworthy that the China Coast Guard had rescued 17 Filipino crew members by 6 pm on January 23 after a cargo ship capsized in the South China Sea. Fifteen of those rescued were in stable condition, while two were confirmed dead. the China Coast Guard had received a report from the Sansha maritime search and rescue center in Hainan province that a foreign cargo ship had capsized about 55 nautical miles northwest of Huangyan Island

Related : China coast guard rescues 13 Filipino seafarers after cargo ship capsizes near Scarborough Shoal

Carrying 21 Filipino crew member

The vessel was carrying 21 Filipino crew members. The China Coast Guard immediately dispatched two ships to the area to conduct search and rescue operations. The China Coast Guard would continue rescue efforts in the waters where the incident occurred and is providing the rescued crew members with food, medical checkups and places to rest to ensure their safety.

About Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha,

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd., commonly known as "K" Line, is a major Japanese global logistics and marine transportation company headquartered in Tokyo. Founded in 1919, it is one of the world's largest shipping companies, specializing in dry bulk carriers, LNG carriers, car carriers, and energy-related transportation, with a fleet of over 400 vessels. 

Related :Tragedy at Sea: The MV Devon Bay Sinking and the Future of Filipino Seafaring Resilience

#"K" Line, #China Coast Guard # Filipino crew #carrier Devon Bay #Dry Bulk