Seaman shot off Waglan

A FILIPINO seaman was shot in the back when his Taiwan-bound vessel was attacked by men aboard a fishing vessel in international waters seven nautical miles southeast of Waglan Island last night.

The master of the Panama-registered cargo vessel, Marine Peace, radioed the Marine Department at 10 pm saying his vessel had been fired at shortly after leaving Hongkong.

Senior Marine Officer Mr Trevor Berry said the 6,600-tonne Marine Peace returned to port shortly before midnight and anchored off Lamma Island.

Mr Berry said the vessel's master had described the condition of the 46-year-old injured seaman as ''not serious but still bleeding''.

However, police launches were unable to berth alongside the vessel because of heavy swells and Mr Berry then advised the master to move his ship to a calmer anchorage south of Hongkong so the seaman could be removed.

He said initial reports on the shooting were rather sketchy and ''we are still waiting for police officers to board the vessel to investigate''.

The Marine Peace had left Hongkong shortly after 8 pm with containers en route to Keelung in Taiwan.