UPDATED
British cargo ship sinks off coast of Germany - several missing after collisionSky News
Updated Tue, 24 October 2023
A British cargo ship has reportedly sunk off the coast of Germany following a collision, and several people are missing.
Two vessels crashed into each other in the North Sea, according to German authorities.
The ships, Polesie and Verity, collided in the early morning about 14 miles southwest of the island of Helgoland, Germany's Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said.
One of the ships, the British-flagged Verity, apparently sank.
The emergency command said one person was rescued from the water and was being given medical treatment, and rescuers were searching for several more people who were unaccounted for.
It said the ship was headed from Bremen to the English port of Immingham.
The other ship, the Bahamas-flagged Polesie, remained afloat with 22 people on board.
A number of German search and rescue vessels are in the area, according to ship tracking, along with two helicopters.
The Iona cruise ship - based out of Southampton - was headed for Rotterdam but has also paused in the vicinity of Verity's last known location, perhaps in an effort to assist with the search.
Sailor dies and four people missing after British cargo ship sinks in North Sea
Jamie Bullen
Tue, 24 October 2023
The Verity (pictured) sank after a collision in the North Sea - Andy Gibson / Alamy Stock Photo
One sailor has died and four remain missing after a British cargo ship sank in the North Sea after colliding with a larger freight vessel.
German maritime authorities say three people who were on board Verity have been rescued after it struck another ship in the German Bight on Tuesday morning.
Officials say one man was declared dead after he was pulled from the water and a search is continuing for four people who remain missing.
One person was rescued earlier.
A search and rescue operation involving a P&O cruise liner and a German Navy Sea King was launched in the early hours on Tuesday after Verity collided with another freighter, called “Polesie”, near Heligoland in the North Sea.
The cause of the collision is being investigated but German media has reported Verity may have lost radio signal around an hour before the crash amid choppy conditions.
Verity, which sails under the British flag, was journeying from Bremen to Immingham, Lincolnshire, reportedly to deliver a shipment of steel. It was believed to have eight people on board.
The Polesie was also involved in the collision
While Polesie, which is registered in the Bahamas, was travelling from Hamburg to La Coruña in Spain. It has remained afloat with 22 people on board.
Poleise is the much larger vessel measuring at 190 metres in length and 29 metres in width compared to Verity which is said to be 91 metres by 14 metres.
In a statement, the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People said it was “assumed” Verity sank as a result of the ships colliding.
It said: “A ship collision occurred in the German Bight early on Tuesday morning, October 24, 2023, around 5am. The cargo ships Polesie and Verity collided approximately 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) southwest of the island of Helgoland and 17 nautical miles (31 kilometers) northeast of the island of Langeoog.
“The emergency command took over overall operational management.
“The accident command currently assumes that the Verity sank as a result of the collision. One person was rescued from the water and is receiving medical care.
“Several other people are currently missing. The search for the shipwreck is underway.”
The man, who only gave his name as Al, said: “There was an announcement that the crew had to ‘muster rescue’ at that point.
“A little later, the crew were instructed to stand ready for a possible helicopter landing. Upper decks were cleared and I was sent packing also.
“As of right now, we’re still stationary. The mood is subdued. There have been no further instructions from the bridge.
“The ship’s company is amazing and should be mentioned here. Utterly professional.”
The Iona has been helping German rescuers at the scene
A P&O spokesman said: “P&O Cruises Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany.
“The incident is ongoing and Iona’s cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company’s moral and legal obligations.
“Iona is scheduled to be at sea today and this event should have no impact upon tomorrow’s scheduled call to Rotterdam or the onward itinerary.”
Verity was built in 2001 at a shipyard in Kootsertille, Netherlands, and was registered in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
Owners Faversham Ships, a British-Dutch company, said it had no comment to make at this time but was in contact with German authorities.
Jamie Bullen
Tue, 24 October 2023
The Verity (pictured) sank after a collision in the North Sea - Andy Gibson / Alamy Stock Photo
One sailor has died and four remain missing after a British cargo ship sank in the North Sea after colliding with a larger freight vessel.
German maritime authorities say three people who were on board Verity have been rescued after it struck another ship in the German Bight on Tuesday morning.
Officials say one man was declared dead after he was pulled from the water and a search is continuing for four people who remain missing.
One person was rescued earlier.
A search and rescue operation involving a P&O cruise liner and a German Navy Sea King was launched in the early hours on Tuesday after Verity collided with another freighter, called “Polesie”, near Heligoland in the North Sea.
The cause of the collision is being investigated but German media has reported Verity may have lost radio signal around an hour before the crash amid choppy conditions.
Verity, which sails under the British flag, was journeying from Bremen to Immingham, Lincolnshire, reportedly to deliver a shipment of steel. It was believed to have eight people on board.
The Polesie was also involved in the collision
While Polesie, which is registered in the Bahamas, was travelling from Hamburg to La Coruña in Spain. It has remained afloat with 22 people on board.
Poleise is the much larger vessel measuring at 190 metres in length and 29 metres in width compared to Verity which is said to be 91 metres by 14 metres.
In a statement, the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People said it was “assumed” Verity sank as a result of the ships colliding.
It said: “A ship collision occurred in the German Bight early on Tuesday morning, October 24, 2023, around 5am. The cargo ships Polesie and Verity collided approximately 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) southwest of the island of Helgoland and 17 nautical miles (31 kilometers) northeast of the island of Langeoog.
“The emergency command took over overall operational management.
“The accident command currently assumes that the Verity sank as a result of the collision. One person was rescued from the water and is receiving medical care.
“Several other people are currently missing. The search for the shipwreck is underway.”
A P&O passenger told The Telegraph they were alerted to an incident in their cabins at around 5am following a tannoy announcement.
The man, who only gave his name as Al, said: “There was an announcement that the crew had to ‘muster rescue’ at that point.
“A little later, the crew were instructed to stand ready for a possible helicopter landing. Upper decks were cleared and I was sent packing also.
“As of right now, we’re still stationary. The mood is subdued. There have been no further instructions from the bridge.
“The ship’s company is amazing and should be mentioned here. Utterly professional.”
The Iona has been helping German rescuers at the scene
A P&O spokesman said: “P&O Cruises Iona is currently involved in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Germany.
“The incident is ongoing and Iona’s cooperation complies with international maritime law as well as being consistent with the company’s moral and legal obligations.
“Iona is scheduled to be at sea today and this event should have no impact upon tomorrow’s scheduled call to Rotterdam or the onward itinerary.”
Verity was built in 2001 at a shipyard in Kootsertille, Netherlands, and was registered in Douglas on the Isle of Man.
Owners Faversham Ships, a British-Dutch company, said it had no comment to make at this time but was in contact with German authorities.
No comments:
Post a Comment