Rescue team begins righting capsized Eastern Star

BEIJING -- The search and rescue team started to right the capsized cruise ship on the Yangtze River at 8 pm Thursday, according to the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

The decision was made after rescue headquarters decided the rescue plan should be moved forward quickly.

The ship will be hoisted by cranes capable of lifting and uprighting the whole vessel. Experts in diving, recovery, relief and ship design from across the country are at the site to provide support. The plan is in line with international norms.

Every cabin of the cruise ship will be searched.

Chairing a meeting with members of a State Council work team that is overseeing the rescue operation, Vice Premier Ma Kai said experts had concluded that the "timing was right" to upright the cruise ship.

He urged rescuers to put the people first and to carry out the rescue operations in a scientific, swift and orderly manner.

The decision to upright the Eastern Star cruise ship was made as chances for finding more survivors in the ship have become increasingly slim, said Xu Chengguang, spokesman with the Ministry of Transport (MOT).

Detection equipment used in recent searches has failed to locate any signs of life, Xu said at a press conference on Thursday evening.

Xu explained the decision to lift and upright the capsized wreckage would help find the missing "in the shortest possible time" and "protect the dignity of the deceased" as much as possible.

Over 450 people were onboard the Eastern Star when it sank on Monday night after being hit by a tornado in Jianli, Hubei Province. The incident could become China's deadliest shipping accident in almost seven decades.