One sailor was rescued but six others were missing after their ship capsized in rough seas off east China's Zhejiang Province Monday, the local border forces said.

The cargo vessel, carrying steel bars, was sailing from Shanghai to Taizhou City, off Zhoushan Island in the East China Sea, when it sank shortly after 8:45 a.m.

The steel bars shifted to one side of the ship in the turbulent water, and the vessel capsized and finally sank, throwing the crew and cargo into the sea.

The border detachment and maritime authority of Zhoushan sent about 10 vessels to the site and rescued one sailor.

The search for the missing continues.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2009)