BEIJING - China has urged the owner of a South Korean ship, which sank in waters off Guangdong province, to find a professional salvage company as soon as possible after local maritime authorities received no response to their salvage request.

The Republic of Korea registered Kenos Athena was loaded with 7,000 tons of concentrated sulfuric acid and 140 tons of fuel when it sank after water entered its ballast 4.1 nautical miles (7.6 km) offshore near Shanwei city last Tuesday.

Transport ministry spokesman He Jianzhong said Thursday that "the sulfuric acid and fuel could leak at any time and cause serious pollution."

The ministry spokesman said that salvaging a ship fully loaded with chemicals would be "very difficult because China has no experience in salvaging such a ship before". So far, no leakage had been reported.

Guangdong maritime authorities said they have asked the ship's owner twice to engage a salvage company and present a detailed salvage plan, but so far have not received a response.

The owner of the 27-year-old ship should take full responsibility for the accident, He said.