Nine crew members were rescued near Dalian's Haiyang island after a cargo ship was damaged in stormy conditions in China's Yellow Sea on March 17.

The nine-member crew was safely airlifted by helicopter from the deck of the Zhongjian 33 cargo ship in weather conditions so bad that the shift had tilted about 30 degrees.

The Beihai Rescue Bureau had immediately launched the emergency operation after receiving a notification from Liaoning Maritime Search and Rescue Center about the nine crew members trapped on cargo ship Zhongjian 33 since midnight.

According to the Liaoning Provincial Maritime Bureau, a plan to send tugboats to the cargo ship is being discussed following the rescue operation.