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Cargo ship sinks after collision off Dutch coast Cargo ship sinks after collision off Dutch coast
(35 minutes later)
Dutch coastguards are mounting a major rescue operation in the North Sea after a cargo ship sank following a collision.Dutch coastguards are mounting a major rescue operation in the North Sea after a cargo ship sank following a collision.
The accident took place off the coast of Belgium, after the Baltic Ace sailed from Zeebrugge. The accident took place off the coast of Belgium and the Netherlands, after the Baltic Ace sailed from Zeebrugge.
Some of the 24 crew members of the Baltic Ace have been rescued, but 11 are still missing in freezing waters.Some of the 24 crew members of the Baltic Ace have been rescued, but 11 are still missing in freezing waters.
Two lifeboats and three helicopters are assisting the rescue, and a Dutch naval frigates is also at the scene. A helicopter with infrared cameras has joined the search as strong winds and high winds make conditions difficult.
High waves and strong wind are hampering rescue operations, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defence. "We are feverishly looking for 11 missing crew members of the Baltic Ace which sank earlier. So far we have rescued 13," Dutch coastguard spokesman Marcel Oldenburger told the Agence France-Presse news agency,
The Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag. It was transporting cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland when it collided with the Cyprus-registered container ship, the Corvus J, sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp.The Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag. It was transporting cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland when it collided with the Cyprus-registered container ship, the Corvus J, sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp.
The Corvus J is said to be badly damaged but not in danger of sinking. All 12 crew members are still on board.The Corvus J is said to be badly damaged but not in danger of sinking. All 12 crew members are still on board.
The Dutch coastguard said the cause of the collision, which happened at 1815GMT, was not yet known.The Dutch coastguard said the cause of the collision, which happened at 1815GMT, was not yet known.
"We have found life rafts, and the people in them are being picked up by helicopters," said spokesman Peter Verburg."We have found life rafts, and the people in them are being picked up by helicopters," said spokesman Peter Verburg.
The shipping lane where the accident happened is one of the busiest in the North Sea, about 100km (60 miles) from the port of Rotterdam port, Europe's busiest.The shipping lane where the accident happened is one of the busiest in the North Sea, about 100km (60 miles) from the port of Rotterdam port, Europe's busiest.
But a spokesman for the port said its activities would not be affected by the collision.But a spokesman for the port said its activities would not be affected by the collision.