Coastguards resume search for Dubai-operated livestock ship that sank in the East China Sea

Rescuers saved two crew and recovered a body before the search was halted due to a second storm

A Filipino crew member of Gulf Livestock 1, a cargo ship carrying livestock and dozens of crew members that went missing after issuing a distress signal due to Typhoon Maysak, is rescued by Japan Coast Guard crew members to the west of Amami Oshima island in southwestern Japan. Reuters

A Filipino crew member of Gulf Livestock 1 is rescued by Japan Coast Guard crew onboard the vessel Kaimon. Reuters

A Filipino crew member from the missing livestock ship is seen after being rescued by the Japan Coast Guard off the coast of Japan. Reuters

A Filipino crew member of Gulf Livestock 1 is rescued by Japan Coast Guard crew onboard the vessel Kaimon. Reuters

A man is being rescued from a life raft by coast guards. AFP

A Filipino crew member waits to depart the life raft during rescue by Japan Coast Guard crew onto the vessel Kaimon. Reuters

A life jacket is found in the rescue site of capsized cattle ship 'Gulf Livestock 1' in the East China Sea. Japan Coast Guard, 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters via Getty Images

Ropes are found in the rescue site of capsized cattle ship 'Gulf Livestock 1' in the East China Sea. Japan Coast Guard, 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters via Getty Images

A life boat is found in the rescue site of capsized cattle ship 'Gulf Livestock 1' in the East China Sea. Japan Coast Guard, 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters via Getty Images

Japanese coastguards have resumed their search for a Dubai-owned livestock ship that capsized with 43 crew and almost 6,000 cattle on board.

Gulf Livestock 1 overturned in the East China Sea last week while sailing in stormy seas caused by Typhoon Maysak.

Two crew members were rescued and one body recovered before the search was halted due to a second storm.

Flyovers resumed on Monday, and two patrol ships returned to the sea on Tuesday.

Rescuers report seeing dozens of cow carcasses in the water, as well as an empty raft, one of the ship’s life vests and a floating bundle of rope.

Traces of fuel have also been seen in the sea, which is a sign the ship is submerged.

The vessel left New Zealand in the middle of August bound for Tangshan in east China, with 5,800 cows on board.

The ship sent a distress signal on September 2 after losing an engine before it hit a wave and capsized, according to Sareno Edvarodo, a 45-year-old chief officer from the Philippines.

He was picked up by coastguards, who found him while searching for the ship.

Mr Edvarodo said the crew was instructed to put on lifejackets and he jumped into the water but did not see anyone else before he was rescued.

The coastguard pulled a second survivor from the water on Friday.

Jay-nel Rosals, a 30-year-old deckhand from the Philippines, was floating in a raft in the waters north of the Amami Oshima island.

Another man was found unconscious and floating face down about 120 kilometres northwest of the island. He was taken to hospital but was later declared dead.

Dubai-based Gulf Navigation Holdings said on Saturday it was praying for other survivors.

“Our hearts go out to those onboard and their families at this time.

“We also express deep regret for the sad loss of the livestock on board. We pray that there are other survivors.”

The company owns and operates a range of ships, including chemical tankers.

The vast majority of the ship’s 43-strong crew were from the Philippines, but there were also two New Zealanders and two Australians.