Manila: The government has assured help to families of the 19 Filipino crewmembers of a ship that sank in Vietnamese waters on January 2 as authorities have so far recovered one survivor and two fatalities in the mishap.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose in a statement, said the search for 16 other crew members---all Filipinos---continues two days after the vessel Bulk Jupiter sank off the coast of Vung Tau City in Vietnam.

The Bulk Jupiter was carrying its 46,400 metric tonnes of Bauxite and was on its way to China from the Port of Kuantan in Malaysia when the vessel encountered problems.

“Repeated attempts to contact the vessel on all communication channels were unsuccessful,” Gearbulk, the operator of the vessel said on its website.

Gearbulk added that the Japanese Coast Guard received the distress alert and immediately initiated search and rescue operation.

“Lifeboats and life rafts have been inspected but found empty,” the company said, adding that the tug boat, M/V OLNG Muttrah, was able to recover one surviving crew member as well as two bodies.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman, Jose did not name the survivor but said that the rescued Filipino seaman was the vessel’s chief cook.

“The search and rescue operation, lead by Vietnam MRCC, Vung Tao, continues.

All relatives of the crew have been notified and a family centre has been established in Manila,” Jose said.

Magsaysay shipping is the manning agency for Gearbulk.

Aside from those of the Japan Coast Guard, the vessels that were participating in the rescue effort were from Liberia, Oman, Singapore and China according to Jose.

“The embassy is coordinating with the Vietnam Maritime Research and Rescue Coordinating Center and the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, which is approximately 96 kilometers from Vung Tau City, in gathering updates and making arrangements for the repatriation of the rescued seafarer and the retrieved remains,” he said.

Gearbulk Holding Limited operates the world’s largest fleet of open hatch gantry and semi-open jib craned vessels. Its vessels specialize in carrying unitized break-bulk cargoes like forest products, non-ferrous metals, and steel.

Reports said that the bulk carrier likely capsized as a result of the movement of cargo which affected the vessel’s stability.

Filipinos account for 35-40 per cent of sailors employed in the international merchant shipping fleet.