Maritime authorities are investigating a foreign merchant ship suspected of colliding with a Chinese fishing boat on Sunday, leading to the deaths of two people from the Chinese boat, Fujian Maritime Safety Administration said on Monday. Twelve are also missing from the Chinese boat.

The Chinese fishing boat, registered in Quanzhou, Fujian province, sank near Pingtan Island in the Taiwan Straits at about 4 am on Sunday after colliding with another boat. Two people onboard were saved.

The foreign ship suspected in the collision is registered in Liberia and has arrived in Shanghai under the supervision of the maritime authorities for investigation, the administration said.

Authorities will check the ship's certifications and documents as well as its sailing data during the time of the accident. They will also interview the crew and check whether the ship appears damaged by the collision, it said.

The ship won't be allowed to leave until the investigation is finished, it added.

Rescue efforts to find the 12 missing people are ongoing.

The Fujian maritime rescue authority dispatched rescue ships to the area and organized 17 fishing boats nearby to join the search. Ships and helicopters from the Taiwan rescue authority were also asked to assist in the search, according to the administration.