The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)of the Marine Department (MD) is still conducting a search and rescue operation for two missing crew in the vicinity to the south of Ninepin Group after the sinking of a Mainland coaster vessel early this (Friday) morning.
Six crew members who had been picked up from the sea by the Government Flying Service (GFS) helicopters earlier were all certified dead after arrival at Eastern Hospital.

Shortly after 12.30 am, the MRCC received a report through the Marine Police that the 49-metre-long "Tian Cheng", while on its way to Huizhou, was taking in water at about three nautical miles east of Basalt Island.

The MRCC immediately tasked six Police launches, two fireboats and two MD launches and a GFS helicopter to the scene for a search and rescue operation.

After day break, another GFS helicopter and a fixed wing craft joined the operation while MD's hydrographic launch "Hydro 2" was also deployed to locate the sunken vessel.

At about 8 am, the GFS helicopter located the first missing crew in water to the south of Ninepin Group.

In the following three hours, five other missing crews were also picked up by GFS helicopters in that area.

Five of the crews picked up from the sea were seen wearing life-jackets.

Marine Department will investigate into the cause of the incident.

Friday, 12 March 1999