A seafarer has been killed and another six crew members injured following a blast on a product tanker off Hong Kong.
The accident involving the 10,000-dwt Chuang Yi (built 2000) took place on Saturday, east of the Chinese territory, the AFP news agency reported.
The Hong Kong Government Flying Services (HKFS) was notified of an explosion at 1605 (0805 GMT) when the ship was 300 km offshore.
The cause of the blast remained unclear, a Hong Kong government spokesperson said.
A fire caused by the explosion was extinguished by the crew before rescue services arrived, the spokesperson added.
The vessel was adrift following the incident, after losing power.
Authorities were unable to confirm if there were oil spills because of poor visibility.
The HKFS sent a fixed-wing aircraft and two helicopters to rescue seven crew members reported to be injured.
One man had died by the time rescuers arrived at the Panama-flag tanker, however.
Three Indonesian men aged between 30 and 39 were seriously injured.
Burn injuries
One of these suffered second-degree burns to 30% of his body, while the others were reported to have burns on their faces.
Two other Indonesian men and a seafarer from Myanmar, also aged in their 30s, had less serious injuries such as lacerations and more minor burns.
The tanker was en route to Kaohsiung in Taiwan at the time of the incident.
AIS data shows it as not under command on Tuesday.
The operator is listed as Fu Sheng Shipping Safety Management of Kaohsiung, which could not be contacted.
Insurance cover is provided by the American Club.
No port state control detentions are listed on the tanker’s record.
