New Taipei, Sept. 15 (CNA) Sixteen of 17 crew members on a Hong Kong freighter that was listing dangerously off the coast of northern Taiwan Saturday have been rescued, but its Filipino captain is still missing, according to a Taiwanese maritime official. The New Lucky 3, loaded with logs, was tilting dangerously in rough seas 35 nautical miles off the coast of Bali in northwestern Taiwan after being pummeled by huge waves.

It called Taiwan's National Search and Rescue Command Center for help at 12:50 p.m. (4:50 a.m. GMT) Saturday, according to the official with the North Taiwan Maritime Affairs Center under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

A helicopter from the National Airborne Service Corps picked up seven of the crew members, while a Coast Guard ship rescued another nine members, the official said.

The captain fell overboard during the rescue and went missing, and the Coast Guard ship was still searching for him Saturday night, the official said.

All of the rescued crew members, including three Chinese, three Filipinos, and 10 Indonesians, are being sheltered in Keelung.

The powerless ship is currently drifting at sea and poses a threat to passing ships, the maritime official said, and he warned vessels to take precautions when sailing in nearby waters.

(By Sunrise Huang and Maubo Chang)
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