A Hong Kong District Judge has convicted four seamen over the deaths of 18 sailors from the Ukraine in March 2008.
In the incident, Ukrainian tug 'Neftegas-67' collided with Chinese cargo ship 'Yaohai' under foggy conditions. The tug was carrying 24 Ukrainian crew and one Chinese sailor when it sank after hitting the 'Yaohai'. Seven men were rescued.
Yuriy Kulemesin, the Captain of the 'Negetgaz-67' alleged that he did not hear the warning whistle blasts from the 'Yaohai'.
The court found the four men guilty of endangering the lives of others at sea after concluding that the tug had had ample time to avoid the collision.
Captain Kulemesin and three defendants, the Captain of the 'Yaohai', Liu Bo, and two pilots, Tang Dock-wah and Bruce Chun all pleaded not guilty.
The collision was the first fatal shipping collision case in Hong Kong.
The men will be sentenced shortly.