Three Chinese sailors that survived the sinking of their cargo ship were permitted on Tuesday to leave Russia for home.

The three sailors were rescued after the Chinese cargo ship "New Star", with 16 crew members aboard, sank on Feb. 15 off the waters near Russia's far-eastern port of Vladivostok.

Half of the crew members -- one Indonesian and seven Chinese -- went missing after boarding a live raft. The survivors were rescued by a Russian ship.

Russia's law enforcement department has launched a probe into the incident.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2009)