Russian authorities have begun to evacuate seafarers from a Chinese cargo ship that grounded at Kholmsk in Sakhalin.

The 5,400-dwt aggregates carrier Xing Yuan (built 1993) got stuck on Monday, the Tass news agency cited Sakhalin governor Valery Limarenko as saying.

The vessel, operated by Yun Xing Shipping of Shandong, has 12 Chinese crew members.