Ship sinks off S Korea coast, 9 people missing

The cargo ship was entering the port of Incheon, west of Seoul, when it slammed into the 3,980-ton Korea Gas around 4 am.

A Chinese cargo ship sank off South Korea's west coast after colliding with an anchored freighter on Monday, leaving at least three crew members dead of the Chinese ship dead and nine others missing, the coast guard said.

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The 2,972-ton Xinhai7 was entering the port of Incheon, west of Seoul, when it slammed into the 3,980-ton Korea Gas around 4 am, a coast guard statement said.

The Chinese vessel, which was carrying iron ore, sank immediately. A nearby vessel rescued five of the 17 crew members, while three were found dead and the nine others remained missing, the coast guard said.

One helicopter and 29 boats were searching the area for the missing, it said.

The South Korean cargo ship sustained minor damage and all its crew were safe, the coast guard said.

"The sunken vessel is presumed to have not recognised the anchored vessel and collided with it," it said.