A plea for help has been issued from another ship stuck off China thanks to the country's ongoing trade dispute with Australia.

A letter sent from the 179,000-dwt Knightship (built 2010) said that the crew has been at anchor off Jingtang on the Seanergy Maritime Holdings-owned, Liberian-flagged capesize bulker for five months with no end in sight.

"The crew on board are like political hostages and slaves owned by charter and cargo owners," said the letter to TradeWinds that was purportedly issued on behalf of the crew.