The 94 meter long, 6500 dwt freighter New Lucky VII went missing in the East China Sea near Amami Oshima, Japan.  The vessel with 17 crew on board was headed to China from Papua New Guinea with a cargo of lumber when it encountered a severe storm.  When authorities lost contact with the vessel, a search and rescue mission was launched by the Japanese Coast Guard.  Aircraft spotted a life raft with nine survivors and a lifeboat with two people on board.  All 11 crewmen were reported to be in good shape.  Aircraft also spotted multiple oil slicks near where the vessel sank.