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Four dead after cargo ship sinks in North Sea | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Four sailors are dead and another seven are missing after a cargo ship sank in the North Sea following a collision. | Four sailors are dead and another seven are missing after a cargo ship sank in the North Sea following a collision. |
The accident took place off the coast of Belgium and the Netherlands, 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. |
Thirteen crew members of the Baltic Ace have been rescued, but seven are still missing in freezing waters. | Thirteen crew members of the Baltic Ace have been rescued, but seven are still missing in freezing waters. |
The rescue operation is continuing through the night, but a coastguard spokesman says "the chance of finding anyone alive now is virtually zero". | |
"We are doing all we can, but time is overtaking us," Peter Verberg told the Associated Press news agency. | |
Strong winds and high seas are making conditions difficult. | |
Another Coast Guard spokesman, Marcel Oldenburger, said several helicopters and two navy patrol ships would continue searching for the remaining seven sailors through the night. | |
Life rafts found | Life rafts found |
The 148-metre (485-foot) Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag and carrying cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland. | The 148-metre (485-foot) Baltic Ace was sailing under a Bahamas flag and carrying cars from Zeebrugge in Belgium to Kotka in Finland. |
Its 24 crew abandoned ship as it sank quickly after colliding with the Cyprus-registered container ship, the Corvus J, sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp. | Its 24 crew abandoned ship as it sank quickly after colliding with the Cyprus-registered container ship, the Corvus J, sailing from Grangemouth in Scotland to the Belgian port of Antwerp. |
The 134-meter Corvus J is said to be badly damaged but not in danger of sinking. All 12 crew members are still on board. | The 134-meter 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 18:15 GMT some 65 km (40 miles) off the coast of the southern Netherlands, was not yet known. | The Dutch coastguard said the cause of the collision, which happened at 18:15 GMT some 65 km (40 miles) off the coast of the southern Netherlands, was not yet known. |
"We have found life rafts, and the people in them are being picked up by helicopters," said Mr Verburg. | |
The shipping lane where the accident happened is one of the busiest in the North Sea, about 100km (60 miles) from Europe's busiest port, Rotterdam. | The shipping lane where the accident happened is one of the busiest in the North Sea, about 100km (60 miles) from Europe's busiest port, Rotterdam. |
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. |