EIGHT crew members were rescued from a sinking ship near Zhuhai Hengqin Island Sunday.Zhuhai Maritime Affairs Bureau received an emergency call from the stricken vessel at 9.42 a.m. Sunday. The bureau issued navigational warnings detailing the sinking ship’s position while initiating a rescue plan.A boat carrying seven maritime guards sent to rescue the crew was later joined by another three boats. However, gale force winds, heavy seas and shallow waters impeded rescue operations during the first two hours. A helicopter was subsequently called in from Hong Kong and the eight seamen were eventually winched aboard the helicopter at about 2 p.m.. The sunken ship, the Jin’an No. 15, was carrying more than 800 tons of porcelain, from Guangdong’s Xinhui Port destined for Wenzhou Port in Zhejiang. The cause of the sinking is under investigation.