Survivors of fishing boat sinking arrive in Bluff

The bodies of five seaman and the 20 survivors from the sinking of the Korean fishing boat Insung No 1 in the Southern Ocean arrived in Bluff last night.

The Insung No 7, the sister ship of the doomed Insung No 1, arrived in Bluff about 9.15pm amid high security, The Southland Times reported.

The Insung No 1, with a crew of 42, sank in icy seas 2700km southeast of Bluff about 6.30am on December 13.

Five bodies and 20 survivors were found by nearby fishing ship No 707 Hongjin, while 17 crewmen are lost at sea.

Insung No 7 was carrying the bodies of two Koreans, two Indonesians and one Vietnamese.

It was not yet known how the ship sank but the vessel's owner has said it sank within 30 minutes, possibly after hitting an iceberg.

Police would interview survivors today as part of a coroner's inquiry, Inspector Olaf Jensen said.

Korean Maritime Authority officials would also be in Bluff to investigate the sinking, he said.

Arrangements would be made to repatriate the dead and send survivors back home next week.

Insung No 1 had visited Bluff annually since December 2006 to take on stores as it headed to the Ross Sea to fish for Antarctic toothfish.

- NZPA