- The Gulf Livestock 1 left New Zealand carrying 5,800 cows to Tangshan, when it sent a distress signal while it was sailing in stormy conditions in the East China Sea as a typhoon passed the area.
- The rescue mission was halted temporarily due to a second typhoon.
- The total crew included 39 from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia.
- The second phase of searching by the Japanese coast guard is underway.
Japanese coast guard ships resumed searching on Tuesday for a livestock ship and its 40 missing crew members off Japan’s southern islands after the efforts were suspended due to a typhoon, reports Japan Today.
The Search Resumes
The Gulf Livestock 1 sent a distress signal early Sept 2 while it was sailing in stormy conditions in the East China Sea as a typhoon passed the area. Two survivors were rescued and the body of a third crew member was recovered before a second typhoon halted the search.
The aerial search had resumed late Monday. Coast Guard officials said two patrol ships were back at sea Tuesday after the waters calmed.
Rescuers have seen dozens of cows carcasses, an empty raft, a life vest carrying the ship’s name and a bundle of rope floating in the area. They also found traces of fuel in the water, a sign of the ship’s submersion.
What Happened?
The Gulf Livestock 1 left New Zealand in mid-August carrying 5,800 cows to Tangshan on China’s eastern coast.
The first survivor, a chief officer from the Philippines rescued last Wednesday, told Coast Guard officials that the ship stalled when an engine stopped, then capsized after being hit broadside by a powerful wave and sank.
A second survivor, a Filipino deckhand, was rescued Friday while floating in a raft.
The total crew included 39 from the Philippines, two from New Zealand and two from Australia. The body of the crew member who died has not been identified.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the country was coordinating with the ship owner and the Japanese coast guard and it remained hopeful other Filipino crew members would be found.
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Source: Japan Today
