Japanese Cargo Ship Collides with Korean Vessel and Sinks... 3 Missing

It is reported that there are no injuries on board the vessel with Korean passengers

▲A collision occurred between Korean and Japanese vessels near Ehime Prefecture, Japan. The photo shows the Ulsan Pioneer, presumed to be a Korean vessel. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A Japanese cargo ship collided with and sank a chemical tanker presumed to belong to a Korean shipping company with Korean crew members on board. It has been confirmed that there were no Korean casualties from the accident.

According to Kyodo News and NHK on the 27th, at around 11:55 PM that day, the Japanese cargo ship "Baekho" (11,454 tons) collided with a chemical tanker off the coast of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and sank. Three of the 12 crew members went missing in the accident. The remaining nine crew members were rescued and transported to a nearby hospital. They are reported to be in stable condition.

The Japan Coast Guard's patrol vessels and aircraft are conducting search operations for the missing persons in the nearby waters.

The chemical tanker "Ulsan Pioneer" (2,696 tons), registered in the Marshall Islands, which collided with the Japanese cargo ship, did not sink. NHK reported that among the crew members?eight Koreans and five Myanmar nationals?there were no injuries.

Photos taken by Kyodo News show "Heung-A" written on the side of the Ulsan Pioneer, indicating that the vessel is presumed to belong to the Korean shipping company Heung-A Shipping. The bow of the Ulsan Pioneer is confirmed to be damaged in the photos.

The Kurushima Strait, where the ship collision occurred, is known as one of Japan's three major tidal currents and is a sea area where accidents frequently happen.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.