Chinese and Indonesian crew members aboard a burning fishing boat were rescued from the ocean early yesterday morning with the help of the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre.

All 19 people from the Pioneer vessel were saved, although two suffered second-degree burns in the incident.

At 1.19am, the Panamanian-registered merchant ship K Coral contacted the BMOC from 900 nautical miles southeast of Bermuda.

The chief officer on board reported seeing a nearby cloud of smoke, and shortly afterwards found the Pioneer on fire, with its crew members having already entered the sea to escape the flames.

With the help of the US Coast Guard (RCC Norfolk) and motor vessel Cherry Point, the K Coral quickly recovered 17 survivors and another one soon after. However, it took a further six hours of searching before the 19th and final crew member was found and rescued.

All survivors were reported to be in a stable condition, as the K Coral proceeds at full speed to Norfolk, Virginia.

If the condition of either of the two patients with burns deteriorates, they will be evacuated via helicopter either from Bermuda or from closer to the US coast.

The Pioneer is presumed to have sunk.