One seafarer has died and another 10 were missing following a collision between a Japanese containership and a general cargo vessel off China.

The 4,400-dwt Oriental Sunrise (built 1983) sank after the clash with the 8,120–teu Hamburg Bridge (built 2009) off Qingdao on Friday night.

Nine Korean crew were rescued from the vessel, three of whom were sent to hospital with injuries.

One of these died after emergency surgery. The other two were in a serious condition.

Chinese authorities brought in 13 ships to search for the missing.

The sunken ship is operated by Dalian All Ship Management of China, while the boxship is managed by Japan's K Line.

By Gary Dixon in London