The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) of the Marine Department (MD) is conducting a search and rescue operation for five crew members who went missing after a collision between two Mainland vessels off Ninepin Group this (Saturday) morning.
Shortly before 5 am, an inbound container ship "Xing Long", coming from Fujian, collided with an outbound cargo vessel "Quan Tai" about four nautical miles to the east of Ninepin Group.

The 58-metre-long "Quan Tai" with nine Mainland crew members on board sank after the collision.

The MRCC immediately tasked a Government Flying Service helicopter, an MD launch, three fireboats, three Police launches and two Police speed boats to the scene for a search and rescue operation.

A police speed boat arrived at the scene shortly and rescued three injured crew members from the water. At about 7.30 am, a fireboat picked up a dead body at the scene.

Of the three injured men who were sent to Eastern Hospital by police launch, one was certified dead on arrival.

A search of the sunken vessel by Fire Services Department divers is also underway.

Saturday, 6 March 1999