Anurag Kumar
Chinese state media reported that a Chinese fishing vessel operating in the Indian Ocean capsized with 39 crew members on board. The crew is AWOL, and a search is underway.
Tuesday morning at 3 a.m., China Central Television (CCTV) reported that the Lupenlaiyuanyu No. 8 sank. The crew of 39 consisted of 17 Chinese, 17 Indonesian, and five Filipino individuals.
The Associated Press reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang ordered the agricultural and transportation ministries to assist in the search for the crew members. Additionally, the Chinese diplomats abroad will assist in the investigation.
“It is necessary to further strengthen the safety management of fishing vessels at sea and to implement preventive measures to ensure the safety of maritime transportation,” said Li Qiang.
Reports on the vessel were unable to pinpoint the precise location of the capsize. The search teams are only aware of a general area near the center of the Indian Ocean.
Together with the Chinese Embassy in Manila, the Philippine Coast Guard is assisting in the search for survivors and monitoring the situation. Additionally, the two parties are coordinating with the search squads.
The Lupenlaiyuanyu No. 8 is operated by Penglaiyingyu Co. Ltd in the eastern province of Shandong.
The Chinese fishing fleet is the largest in the world, with vessels spending months to years at sea. The network of fishing vessels is supported by Chinese maritime security agencies and a vast network of support vessels.
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The vessel was permitted to fish for neon flying calamari. According to the MarineTraffic monitoring website, the vessel had left Cape Town on May 5 for the purpose of traveling to Busan, South Korea. The vessel was last located on May 10 near the French department and region of Reunion. The atoll is located in the Indian Ocean.
The cause of the sinking is still unknown, but comparable incidents in the past have been attributed to poor weather conditions.
