Two seafarers have reportedly died while 17 are still missing after two vessels collided off the coast of Ningbo in the East China Sea in the early morning hours of May 7, according to local media.

The vessels which collided were the fishing vessel Lu Rong Yu 58398, which started listing and sank following the collision, and a Greek bulk carrier Catalina, which sailed away after the incident.

At the time, the 74,432 dwt bulker was on its way from Lianyungang to Beilun, China.

The Malta-flagged bulker is currently docked at Zhoushan, according to AIS data, after it was ordered to change course by the Chinese authorities.

China launched a search and rescue operation for the missing crewmembers, which is being hampered by rough weather in the area.