The rescue of a man stranded at sea for 49 hours was filmed.

Sea Shepherd, a non-profit marine conservation organization, and the Liberian Coast Guard came to the aid of the crew of the freighter Niko Ivanka after it sank off the coast of Liberia last Saturday.

The Liberian-registered ship left the capital Monrovia on July 17 for a port in the south of the West African country, although it was taken into custody for failing to comply with basic security requirements.

He sent a distress signal that afternoon, informing the Coast Guard that he had taken on water. By the time the authorities arrived, it had already partially sunk.

Eighteen people were on the ship’s manifesto, 11 of whom were rescued during a 36-hour search, Liberian Maritime Authority chief Eugene Nagbe told reporters on Sunday.

But those rescued said there were actually around 28 people on board, leaving 17 missing.

On Monday, Sea Shepherd announced that it had rescued a man 49 hours after the ship sank.

The precise number of passengers remains unknown, Deputy Information Minister Jarlaywah Tonpoe told Reuters.

“The vessel was not an authorized passenger vessel and yet it had passengers on board,” said Mr Tonpoe.

It was not clear how or why the vessel was able to leave port or if it was carrying cargo at the time. The ship’s owner, a Chinese national, was arrested on Sunday afternoon, Nagbe said.

Among those listed on the manifesto were a Swedish captain, a Chinese crew member and nine members of the regional review body for schools in West Africa.