Chinese rescuers have tugged a bulk carrier with a defunct engine into safe waters, saving all 33 foreign crew members on board, said the Ministry of Communications on Wednesday.

The Saint Vincent-registered bulker "Tianjin", carrying 25 crew members from Sri Lanka and eight from India, as well as 30,000 tons of stone materials, suffered a sudden engine breakdown 40 nautical miles east of Taiwan's Yilan city on Sunday when typhoon Krosa swept through the area, said Song Jiahui, head of China's Rescue and Salvage Bureau under the ministry.

It is still unclear where the ship was heading.

"The bulker was in danger of sinking or hitting rocks," said Song.

The typhoon drove the powerless freighter 110 nautical miles away from its original spot, when China's rescue team found the vessel, Song said.

With the help of Taiwan's salvage association, the bulker is expected to reach Taiwan's Hualian port on Wednesday night, where it will be repaired.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)