BFF-02 Man found unresponsive after ship sank in typhoon off Japan

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JAPAN-PHILIPPINES-SHIPPING-WEATHER-ACCIDENT

Man found unresponsive after ship sank in typhoon off Japan

TOKYO, Sept 4, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Japan’s coast guard said Friday they found
a man floating face-down and unresponsive at sea as they searched for
survivors from a ship that sank during a typhoon with 43 crew on board.

One survivor has so far been rescued from the ship, and early Friday
morning, a coast guard vessel “discovered a man face-down adrift at sea,” a
statement said.

It was unclear if the man, described as “unconscious”, was still alive as
only a certified medical professional can declare someone dead in Japan.

“The rescued man… is currently being transported to Amami Oshima” island,
around 120 kilometres (75 miles) away, the coast guard statement added.

The man was discovered as the coast guard continues to search for survivors
from the Gulf Livestock 1, a cargo ship carrying nearly 6,000 cows, that sank
off Japan’s west coast as Typhoon Maysak passed through the area.

The ship sent a distress signal early on Wednesday, and the coast guard was
able to rescue one survivor that evening — a Filipino chief officer who was
found bobbing in the open ocean in a lifejacket.

Dramatic photos and video released by the coast guard showed the 45-year-
old floating in the darkness and being pulled onto a boat with a rope as
rescuers battled violent, rolling waves.

He was quickly brought to a large vessel, where coast guard personnel with
surgical masks and gloves wrapped him with blankets.

“Water,” said the man, who identified himself as a Filipino in the video.
“Thank you, thank you very much.”

“I am the only one? No other one?” he asked.

– Second typhoon approaches –

The man told rescuers that he had put on a life jacket and dived into the
sea after a warning announcement on board on Wednesday.

He said one of the boat’s engines had stopped and a wave then overturned
the ship, which later sank, the coast guard said in a statement.

There were no details on when and where the ship sank, but the man said he
had not seen other crew members while waiting to be rescued.

A rubber boat was spotted late Wednesday in the area being searched for
survivors, but the coast guard said they had not confirmed if it was linked
to the ship.

The coast guard said Friday they had seen dead livestock, and retrieved a
life jacket. Four coast guard vessels, a defence ministry plane and specially
trained divers are involved in the search-and-rescue operation.

Japan is currently in its annual typhoon season, and a second massive storm
is on course to arrive in the same area around Sunday, according to local
forecasters, potentially limiting the time the coast guard can continue to
search.

The ship was carrying a crew of 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two
Australians, and was travelling from Napier in New Zealand to the Chinese
port of Tangshan.

It had experienced engine problems before: a 2019 observer report by
Australian authorities noted that the boat was unable to manoeuvre for 25
hours after an issue with its main engine while en route to China.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) said Thursday it was
temporarily suspending live cattle exports after the accident.

“MPI wants to understand what happened on the sailing of the Gulf Livestock
1,” it said.

BSS/AFP/GMR/0852 hrs