For two days now, Ukrainians have been awaiting news of the fate of 18 of their countrymen who sank 35 meters to the bottom of a Hong Kong seabed, along with their vessel. On Saturday, March 22, the Ukrainian tugboat Naftogaz-67 somehow collided with a Chinese cargo ship (neither weather nor cargo overload currently appear to be factors). Only seven of the tugboat crew were apparently able to escape, while the Chinese vessel sustained only minor damage and all its men are safe. The faintest of hope still remains for the other sailors--they could possibly have survived within an air pocket in the hull--but so far no signals have been heard and divers are unable to enter the wreck until it's moved to shallower waters.
The tugboat had been cited for safety issues back in 2003. Documents presented by the Hong Kong Marine Dept. suggest that the Naftogaz-67 lacked an emergency escape route and breathing apparatuses, while the sailors on board do not seem to have received proper safety training.
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