The vessel, carrying more than 54,000 tonnes of nickel ore, lost contact after passing the Philippine's Luzon Island on the way from the Indonesian port of Morowali to Ningde port in China, says Nguyen Van Hanh, director of the Vinalines Shipping company.

The Viet Nam Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre has asked for support from the Philippines and Taiwan to locate the vessel.

The bad weather has prevented ships from approaching the area where the vessel lost contact.

No new information about the lost vessel has been released since 8pm December 26.

The search and rescue centre have continued contacting other rescue centres in the region to boost efforts to locate the vessel.

VNA