The Dubai-based operator of a ship which capsized while carrying 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle said it is “praying for survivors”.
Just two crew members have so far been rescued following the incident, which occurred early on Wednesday in the East China Sea near Japan.
The boat lost an engine while being lashed by high winds and heavy seas from Typhoon Maysak, a category 4 storm which reached its peak intensity of 230 kilometers per hour.
It was en route from New Zealand to China at the time.
“Our hearts go out to those onboard and their families at this time,” said a statement from Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holdings.
“We also express deep regret for the sad loss of the livestock on board. We pray that there are other survivors.”
The company owns and operates a range of ships, including chemical tankers.
The Gulf Livestock 1 ship sent a distress call from the west of Amami Oshima island in south-western Japan.
The country’s coastguard found Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer from the Philippines, while searching for the ship.
-
A Filipino crew member believed to be onboard 'Gulf Livestock 1' is rescued by a Japanese coastguard team to the west of Amami Oshima island in south-west Japan. Reuters -
People look at an electric pole knocked down by Typhoon Maysak in the port of Ulsan. AFP -
A dinosaur sculpture is damaged by Typhoon Maysak in Ulsan. AFP -
Windows and air conditioning units damaged by Typhoon Maysak at an apartment near Gwangalli beach in Busan. AFP -
A man looks at a house damaged by Typhoon Maysak in Ulsan. AFP -
A buoy un-tethered during heavy swell brought by Typhoon Maysak on Haeundae beach in Busan. AFP -
Asubmerged street in the aftermath of Typhoon Maysak in Gangneung, South Korea. Reuters -
A man takes photos of a street flooded by Typhoon Maysak in Gangneung. AFP -
A woman looks at debris caused by Typhoon Maysak in Pohang, South Korea. Reuters -
An electric pole falls down in Ulsan. AFP -
A damaged car is seen under a wall in Ulsan. AFP -
A woman cleans an apartment after strong winds from Typhoon Maysak left windows shattered, near Gwangalli beach in Busan. AFP
He told his rescuers the ship lost an engine before it was hit by a wave and capsized.
The crew was instructed to put on lifejackets and he jumped into the water but did not see any other crew members before he was rescued.
On Friday, the coast guard pulled a second survivor from the water.
Jay-nel Rosals, a 30-year-old deckhand from the Philippines, was floating in a raft in the waters north of the Amami Oshima island.
The coastguard had earlier found a man who was unconscious and floating face down about 120 kilometers northwest of the island. He was taken to hospital but was later declared dead.
Takahiro Yamada, a senior spokesman for the regional coast guard headquarters, said dozens of cow carcasses were seen floating in the area.
New Zealand has temporarily suspended any new approvals for the export of live cows, saying it “wants to understand what happened on the sailing of the Gulf Livestock 1.”
In total, 39 of the 43-strong crew were from the Philippines. There were also two New Zealanders and two Australians.
Typhoon Maysak was bearing down on southern Japan when the ship sunk. Its tracker showed it sailing in high winds of 58 knots, or 107 kilometers per hour.
