Photo taken on March 20 shows the ROK cargo ship "Korea Gas", which had a collision with a Chinese cargo ship on Monday. The Chinese Ministry of Communications confirmed Monday that three Chinese sailors were killed and nine missing in a ship collision in Port of Inchon, Republic of Korea (ROK), Monday morning. According to the ministry, a cargo ship of Tuvalu with 17 Chinese sailors aboard ran into a ROK cargo ship at 4:05 a.m. Monday in Port of Inchon, leading to the sinking of the Tuvalu ship. All 17 Chinese sailors aboard the ship dropped into the water. (Xinhua Photo)

    SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Three Chinese sailors were killed and 9 others went missing early Monday after their ship collided with a South Korean vessel and sank in the Yellow Sea, according to the Chinese Consulate in Seoul.

    The 2,972-ton Chinese ship, which was carrying fuel materials, collided with the 3,980-ton South Korean freight ship at 20 nautical miles southwest of Incheon, South Korean second largest port city located just west to Seoul, at 4:05 a.m. Monday (1905 GMT Sunday). The Chinese ship sank right after the collision.

The ROK maritime policemen carry the body of a Chinese sailor at the Port of Inchon, Republic of Korea (ROK), March 20, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo)

    All the 17 crew members on the Chinese ship, owned by Xinbei International Shipping (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd., fell into the water. Five were rescued, while 3 were found dead and nine are still missing as of earlier Monday.

    The five are Wang Xiaojian, Wang Bo, Wang Haijun, Li Hao and Xia Hailin, according to a crew list obtained by the Chinese Consulate from South Korean side.

    The rescued were sent to a hospital in Incheon immediately.

    Incheon Coast Guard and South Korean navy sent 18 military vessels, rescue boats and one helicopter to the scene to conduct searching and rescue operation. Meanwhile, 11 South Korean civilian ships also were mobilized to joint the operation. Enditem