Helicopters dispatched by China's transport ministry succeeded in pulling the multi-national crew of Iranians, Bangladeshis and Malaysians off the distressed ship, China Central Television reported.

One crew member was hospitalised with a heart condition and another injured during the operation, a maritime official said in the report.

Earlier, state --inhua news agency reported that a crew of 36 were onboard the Iranian-registered vessel that was identified as the Zoorik and which was on the brink of capsizing.