World Bulletin / News Desk

A cargo vessel with 12 crew members aboard sank on Wednesday morning off Russia's Black Sea coast, authorities said as they searched for some of the seamen who are still missing.

Three crew members from the ship, which was sailing under a Panamanian flag, were saved, the federal agency for maritime transport told RIA Novosti news agency. 

The emergencies ministry said high winds and strong waves had prevented rescue ships from immediately travelling to the area where the cargo vessel, last located around 24 km (15 miles) from the Russian town of Taman, is thought to have gone down at around 0030 GMT. 

The 12 crew members included nine Ukrainians, two Russians and one Georgian national, Russia's Investigative Committee said. 

Local investigators said they had launched a criminal probe to determine whether violations of transportation safety could have been behind the sinking.