Coast Guard rescues 17 people from abandoned Chinese cargo ship

The Coast Guard Administration (CGA) rescued all 17 crew members of the China-registered cargo ship. Yu Zhou Qi Hang (鈺洲啟航) after the captain abandoned the ship, which became unable to be steered due to severe weather conditions and a heavy load.

The vessel, which left Keelung for Zhangzhou in southeast China’s Fujian province at 7:57 a.m. yesterday, was found stuck in unusual conditions 2.4 nautical miles (4.44 km) north-northwest of the Cape Yeliu (野柳) in northern Taiwan three hours later. SGA said.

Photo courtesy of CGA

The ship, which was carrying three gantry cranes and was buffeted by strong winds and the outer edge of approaching Typhoon Kong-ray, was unable to leave the area and gradually drifted closer to shore near Yeliu, the report said.

Rescue teams sent tugboats to the scene but had to turn back due to rough sea conditions, the CGA said.

Captain Yu Zhou Qi Hang decided to abandon ship that evening as the wind and rain picked up, and the coast guard dispatched a 100-tonne patrol boat to rescue the crew, returning them safely to Keelung Port by 10:05 pm yesterday.