A Panama-registered vessel with 23 Chinese sailors aboard ran aground off Norway's southern coast early Friday, according to reports from Oslo.

The 167-meter-long "Full City" was carrying about 1,120 tons of oil when it ran aground just west of the town of Larvik, 132 kilometers south of Oslo.

The accident happened when the ship's engines failed and anchor chains snapped in stormy weather conditions, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported.

The authorities said 16 Chinese sailors were evacuated by helicopter from the ship while seven others, including the captain, remained aboard.

An official from the coastal affairs agency said the ship was leaking diesel oil into the surrounding coastal areas. To date, it is not clear how much oil had leaked into the sea.

The salvage crews had attempted to contain the spill Friday morning, said the NTB, adding that some oil has already reached the shore.

(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2009)