A liner carrying 44 containers sunk on Thursday morning after running up against a bulk carrier in the estuary of the Pearl River in south China's Guangdong Province.

All the 15 crew members aboard the liner survived the shipwreck, which occurred at about 1:45 am. after being rescued by those on the carrier.

Teams sent by local maritime department rushed to the water areas at about 5:40 am. to salvage the 27 containers found floating nearby.

There is yet no information about the whereabouts of the rest 17 containers. And efforts are exerting to search for them underwater.

The missing containers hold no dangerous goods inside, and no pollution was caused to the water areas where the shipwreck took place, said the maritime department.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency July 2, 2004)