Two Chinese vessels seized in Australian waters

The Australian government announced Friday that two Chinese steel-hulled trawler vessels have been seized inside Australian waters and are being taken to Darwin, the capital of Northern Territory.

The crew will be investigated by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in Darwin, according to a joint statement by Australian Fisheries Minister Eric Abetz, Defense Minister Brendan Nelson and Justice Minister Chris Ellison.

The vessels, De Yuan Yu 001 and De Yuan Yu 002, were intercepted by HMAS Ipswich inside the Australian Fishing Zone northwest of the Wessels islands off the Northern Territory coast early Thursday after being spotted by Coastwatch aircraft, said the statement.

Sources from the Chinese embassy in Canberra told Xinhua Friday that the two vessels were on their way to a nearby refueling vessel for refueling, adding they were in Australian waters due to current and wind factors.

"Thirteen crew were found on board one vessel, 14 on the other, all are People's Republic of China nationals. Each vessel weighs approximately 123 tons and is 31 meters in length," the statement said.

"Initial investigations by AFMA officers on board HMAS Ipswich found approximately 4,000 kilograms of reef fish on board the De Yuan Yu 001, and 3,000 kilograms on board the De Yuan Yu 002," it said.

The two vessels are expected to arrive in Darwin on Saturday.

Source: Xinhua