A cargo boat sank off Keelung, northern Taiwan on Saturday and the bodies of two crew members were recovered after apparently becoming trapped on the vessel, according to the Coast Guard Administration (CGA).

The cargo boat, Tung Yang No. 6, sank about 0.2 nautical miles south of Keelung Islet, with its two Taiwanese crew members, surnamed Wu (?) and Lin (?), trapped on board, the CGA said.

Despite being rushed to hospital, Wu and Lin were pronounced dead shortly thereafter, the CGA said.

The two men had no life signs when they were recovered by crew members from a leisure fishing boat as well as security staff of the Keelung Islet, the CGA added.

The CGA believes the boat sank because of flaws in its drainage system, which caused the vessel to take on water.

Tseng Tzu-wen (???), head of the Department of Tourism and City Marketing in Keelung City Government, said the vessel was transporting materials to Keelung Islet for port repairs.

Although the city government had no contractual ties with the cargo boat, the authorities will continue to monitor how the parties concerned deal with the funerals of the two men and other related matters, Tseng said.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel