A boat with four people of China Administration of Fishing lost
contact with the local fishing department in the South China Sea
near southern island province of Hainan on Monday afternoon.
The 7.2-meter-long and 2.4-meter-wide boat numbered as 46071 set
off on 10 a.m. Monday on regular duty to Beibu Bay, some 60 miles
northwest of Basuo Port, but lost communication at 5 p.m.
One mobile phone is the only means of communication on the
boat.
The provincial maritime search center is organizing rescue action.
The center has asked passing boats to join the efforts.
A
ship from a shipping company in Nanjing, capital city of eastern
province of Jiangsu, was reported near the area and the company has
agreed to offer help.
A
rescue ship of nearby Guangdong Province will also sail to the
site.
Maritime police and the navy have also joined the rescue.
But sources with the center said the rescue work is tough due to
nightfall.
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2003)