13 missing after cargo ship collides with fishing boat north of Japan

A total of 13 people have gone missing following a collision between a cargo vessel and a fishing boat in Pacific waters north of Japan on Saturday, February 29.

The incident occurred at approximately 22:00 local time on Saturday when the Belize-flagged Guo Xing 1 (pictured) collided with an unnamed Japanese-registered fishing vessel some 12 kilometres off the coastal village of Rokkasho in Aomori Prefecture.

A Japan Coast Guard spokesman said that the larger Guo Xing 1 sank within minutes while the fishing boat continued to stay afloat with no injuries reported among its crew of 15.

The cargo vessel’s 14-strong crew were a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino sailors. However, only one of the crew, a Vietnamese national, has been rescued as of 02:00 UTC on Sunday, March 1.

The coast guard is continuing its search for the 13 missing crewmen.

The cargo vessel had sailed out of the Port of Hachinohe in Aomori and was en route to South Korea with around 3,000 tonnes of iron scrap when the collision took place.