Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo (second from right) urged people engaged in rescue operations for victims of the Dashun shipwreck to coordinate the recovery efforts in Yantai on December 2.

The ferry Dashun sank near the port city of Yantai, east China' s Shandong Province, on November 24.

In an inspection tour of Yantai today, Wu said, "It has become more difficult to salvage bodies from the water. No matter how difficult it is, we should try in every possible way to effectively handle problems arising from the accident."

The safety of rescuers will be ensured throughout their work. Every possible effort will be made to claim bodies and care for the relatives of the victims, Wu said. Relevant departments should accelerate the pace of investigation, he added.

Wu rushed to Yantai soon after a national conference on production safety closed Wednesday afternoon. While in Yantai, he heard reports of rescue operations and extended his regards to divers, the naval force of the People's Liberation Army, armed police and medical workers.