Passengers on board a ship had a lucky escape after fire engulfed their vessel at sea yesterday.

　　A massive rescue mission involving 30 ships came to the aid of the stricken passenger vessel, the Liaohai, after it caught fire a few kilometres off of Dalian, Liaoning Province in Northeast China.

　　"Among the rescued, 16 with slight injuries were hospitalized," said Zhang Zhixin of the Liaoning Maritime Salvage Administration.

　　Liaohai, carrying 283 passengers and 49 crew, was making her daily crossing of Bohai Bay en route from Yantai.

　　She was nearing her destination when fire broke out.

　　Salvage ships towed the stricken ship to a safe area near the harbour and fire-fighters were continuing to extinguish the blaze last night.

　　Officials are investigating the cause of the fire.