French Police Inspect ?Seattle Trader? in China

Published Mar 16, 2004 12:01 AM by The Maritime Executive

The ?Seattle Trader,? a Philippine-flagged freighter, is under investigation for its role in a collision in the English Channel on January 15, 2004 that killed five French fishermen.

The two French officers accompanied by Chinese police examined the freighter. The two officers, holding a warrant for international assistance, inspected the ship for about eight-hours. The Chinese police officially carried out the inspection in the presence of the two French officers and two staffers from the Philippine consulate in Port Guangzhou.

The results of the inspection will be passed on to the French authorities.