SHANGHAI maritime police rescued 14 fishermen from a boat which was sinking near Chongming Island yesterday.

The Zhesheng 07731 struck a reef in the Hengsha water area due to heavy fog at about 8am and began to sink.

One of the crew dialed 110 after the boat's owner, surnamed Zhang, prevented them abandoning the vessel.

Shanghai's maritime safety administration sent a rescue yacht and motorboat to the scene. Rescuers persuaded the owner to abandon the vessel and evacuated all the crew before the boat sank.

The rescuers are cooperating with other maritime departments in their efforts to salvage the vessel.

(Source: www.shanghai.gov.cn )