MANILA – The Chinese Coast Guard found no trace of the missing crew members of the Gulf Livestock 1 following a two-day search and rescue mission on September 19 and 20.
The Chinese embassy in Manila on Thursday said the operation was in response to Manila’s request for assistance.
“As requested by the Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines, the China Coast Guard has already conducted rescue operations in relevant waters to search the 36 missing (Filipino) crew members of Panamanian vessel M/V Gulf Livestock on two executive [sic] days of 19 and 20 September, but regretfully found no trace of missing crew members,” it said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the missing crew members. We will continue to provide necessary assistance as requested by the Philippine side and sincerely hope all of them could be found at the earliest,” it added.
The livestock ship carrying over 5,000 cattle left Napier, New Zealand on August 14 going to Tangshan, China. It sent a distress signal early September 2 while sailing on the stormy waters of the East China Sea.
Search and rescue operations had been launched by the Japanese Coast Guard after receiving the distress call but only two survivors and the body of a crewmember was found as of this writing.
The crew includes 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders, and two Australians. Forty, including all the foreigners, remain missing.