The cause of the sinking is believed to be shifting of the ship’s ore cargo amid high waves and gushing winds prompted by the Typhoon Roke, MANA correspondent reported cited by local media.
Once the ship started tilting the crew managed to send out a distress signal to the local authorities, only to capsize shortly after.
Two helicopters were dispatched to the scene along with rescue patrol ships from South China’a rescue bureau.
All 12 crew members of the ship are reported to have been rescued, with the majority of them winched into a helicopter from the sea.
The ship was bound for Fujian, Quanzhou when the incident occurred.