Another tragedy as ship sinks

Another tragedy as ship sinks - one man missing
Tragedy on the seas again, this time off the coast of Japan, at the weekend.

The Japanese cargo vessel EIFUKU MARU NO.7 collided with the Cambodian-registered YINHE NO.1 off Wakayama Prefecture and sank. One of the Japanese vessel's crew went missing in the incident. The collision occurred at around 5:15am on Saturday.

Japan's Coast Guard sent out patrol boats to search for 65 year old Hideo Okamoto, the ship's chief engineer whilst the other three members of the crew were rescued by a passing ship.

A kilometre-long oil slick has been reported at the site of the collision.

The 1208 ton YINHE NO.1 sustained damage in a number of areas on its bows and port side but was able to reach Tanabe Port despite taking on water.

The 313 ton EIFUKU MARU NO.7 was on her way to Wakayama Port with around 1000 tons of scrap iron after having left Kinuura Port in Aichi Prefecture on the Friday evening.

The vessel was owned by Tsutsui Kaiun, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture and was built in 1984