Marine

18.3, sinking, fatalities

Japan: the Coast Guard is continuing its search for two missing Filipino crew members of general cargo vessel Gold Leader which sank after a three-vessel collision in the Akaahi Strait on Mar 5. Gold Leader , manned by nine Filipino crew members, was struck by liquid petroleum gas carrier Ocean Phenix after the latter came into contact with grab dredger Eisei Maru No.5 . After Gold Leader sank, passing vessels rescued six of its crewmembers, one of whom died at a local hospital. A fishing trawler recovered the body of Gold Leader ’s master. A local fisheries federation has said seven of its member associations would discontinue this season’s harvesting of nori seaweed due to the oil leak from Gold Leader. The halted harvest is expected to cost the associations about Yen 4bn in revenue. Two of the nine crew members are still missing.