Chinese-flagged commercial fishing vessel runs aground at uninhabited Pacific atoll

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Coast Guard is responding to a 308-foot, Chinese-flagged commercial fishing vessel that ran aground in the Marshall Islands.

A Coast Guard aircrew made contact with the mariners, who are awaiting rescue onboard the vessel.

Officials said no injuries have been reported.

Two fishing vessels are en route to assist the crew. The Republic of the Marshal Islands has also dispatched a vessel.

The cause of the grounding was not immediately clear.

“Our first concern continues to be for the 24 crew on the vessel, and we are working with our partners to effect a rescue,” said Brendon Ritz, of the Coast Guard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu.

The Chinese vessel, Ou Ya Leng No. 6, was reportedly fishing for squid when they ran aground at Taka Atoll, a small, uninhabited coral atoll.

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