YANTAI, Shandong Province, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese divers have explored the sunken ROK ship, the "Golden Rose", that sank off the east China coast a week ago after colliding with a container ship, but found no trace of the crew.

Divers from the Ministry of Communications' salvage arm explored the sunken ship Sunday afternoon and entered the cabin, a ministry spokesman told Xinhua.

He said the divers were continuing to search the cabin and the seabed for signs of the missing sailors.

The "Golden Rose" -- loaded with 5,900 tons of steel -- reportedly sank at around 3:00 a.m. last Saturday off the coast near Yantai in heavy fog after colliding with the "Jinsheng", a Chinese container ship operated by Shandong Lufeng Shipping Company Ltd.

Sixteen sailors from the "Golden Rose" -- eight ROK nationals, seven from Myanmar and one from Indonesia -- are missing more than a week after the accident.

More than 300 Chinese ships and three aircraft, as well as 29 divers and a diving vessel, have been taking part in the search for the missing sailors, and China has invited the ROK to send rescue boats and coast guard vessels.

Searchers earlier found two life rafts, four life rings, a wooden oar, traces of fuel oil and other debris from the "Golden Rose", but no sign of the crew.