31.   Like their comrades nearby in the Gulf, U.S. sailors will soon begin searching suspicious merchant vessels off the coast of Pakistan.

32.   Local authorities said an Egyptian merchant vessel late Tuesday found the body of an American sailor floating off the coast of Port Said, northeast of Cairo.

33.   Merchant vessels alerted marine police to the accident on Friday.

34.   Merchant vessels in the area have been alerted to help in the search, the navy said.

35.   Paris -- Court to decide French customs case against politician-tycoon Bernard Tapie on registration of his yacht as a merchant vessel.

36.   Recently, alien species carried in the water ballast of merchant vessels have further destabilized the food chain.

37.   Reports reaching disaster offices said many of the survivors were rescued by three foreign merchant vessels identified as MV Angel Providence, MV Marinero, and MV Frontness.

38.   Several merchant vessels were also sailing through the impact area and efforts were being made to contact them, he said.

39.   Several merchant vessels were also sailing through the impact area and efforts were being made to contact them, Helm said.

40.   Six merchant vessels were at the scene and at least seven bodies were recovered from the sea by Saturday night, according to a U.S. Coast Guard statement.