Nine seafarers remain missing after their general cargo vessel Hai Thanh 26 BIDV sank some 44 nautical mile off the coast of Vung Tau, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Transportation.

The 3,074 dwt vessel sank in the early morning hours on March 28 following a collision with another ship.

At the time of the incident the 2010-built ship was crewed by 11 seafarers, of whom two were subsequently rescued from their liferaft by the country’s maritime forces.

The authorities found a second liferaft, however, there were no persons inside.

The Ministry of Transportation informed that a number of search and rescue assets were deployed to help locate the remaining crewmembers.

Although the collision was identified as the cause of the incident, the relevant authorities launched an investigation into the sinking.