The Chinese ministry of transport said the1,150-gt Altinia (built 1992) was abandoned and adrift after the incident 55nautical miles from Aden in the early hours of Tuesday.

It was en route from Jebel Ali to Suez.

A naval supply ship picked up the crew andthey were transferred to another Italian ro-ro.

The IMO’s Equasis database lists the owneras Levantina Trasporti of Italy, but the company told TradeWinds it no longerhad the vessel.