HONOLULU -- A ship owned by the Republic of China may soon enter a Hawaii port for repairs, but remains under close watch because of some of its cargo of ammunition.

The damaged ship has been off shore of Pearl Harbor under heavy guard by the Coast Guard.

The 485-foot Chinese-flagged cargo ship, the Tong Cheng, was directed to an area about 2 miles offshore with 26 crewmembers on board.

The Coast Guard provided a safety zone around the Tong Cheng.

The ship was en route from South Korea to the Caribbean when a 56-inch long crack developed in the ship's hull.

Navy divers have put on a temporary patch, but it needs to go to Barbers Point Harbor for more repairs.

"It is a foreign vessel entering under unusual circumstances. Obviously the overriding concern of the moment is safety and the lives of the crew," state Department of Transportation Director Barry Fukunaga said.

A manifest submitted by the ship indicated it is carrying plywood and steel as well as ammunition. A Coast Guard spokesman said it is a small quantity of small arms.

Longshoremen at Barbers Point Harbor said they are concerned about the potentially dangerous cargo and how it will affect vital shipments.

"We've got the coal vessel coming in, you got sauce and you've got the fuel barges. That's a main terminal for them. Somebody's got to stay off berth for a while," International Longshoremen Workers Union agent Nate Lum said.

The area at the harbor where the cargo would be off loaded will be barricaded and customs agents will be allowed to inspect the cargo, officials said.

"If it was a big problem they certainly wouldn't bring it into the harbor as they were planning to do," Fukunaga said.

Water is being pumped to lighten the ship so it can get into shallower waters. However, pumping water from the ship's hold is taking longer than expected, which has forced the Tong Cheng to circle until the Coast Guard gives it approval to come into port.

Local longshoremen are describing the incident as a wake-up call.

"Are we prepared for something like this? I don't think so. The state I'm talking about," Lum said.

Officials said they have determined that no fuel or oil is leaking from the ship. Repairs could take up to two weeks, officials said.

Although the ship was headed to the Caribbean, it is expected to go back to China as soon as repairs are made, a Coast Guard spokesman said.