According to a provisional report from the emergency services, two people have so far been saved.
A collision between two cargo ships in the North Sea on Tuesday left one dead and four missing among the crew members of one of the two boats which sank off the German coast, according to a provisional report from the rescue services. “On board the boat that sank were seven people. (…) Four are still missing, two were rescued and one was found dead,” said the spokesperson for German maritime rescue. No further details were given on the state of health of those rescued, nor on the nationality and age of the seven crew members.
The collision occurred in the North Sea around 5 a.m., 22 kilometers southwest of the German island of Heligoland. It dragged the smaller of the two ships, the Verity, 91 meters long and 14 meters wide. This British-flagged cargo ship had left the German port of Bremen and was heading to Immingham, Great Britain.
The second cargo ship, 190 meters long and 29 meters wide, the Poland, flying the flag of the Bahamas, came from the German port of Hamburg and was heading to La Coruña, Spain. At this stage, it has not been clarified what goods the two cargo ships were carrying. The causes of the collision were also not mentioned.
Three meter high waves
Several rescue ships are currently searching for the castaways, as well as an army helicopter. Medical personnel were rushed to the area. THE Poland, with 22 people on board, is afloat, the press release specifies. It is listed among the fleet of boats of the Polish shipowner Polsteam, according to the company’s website.
The cruise ship Ionawhich belongs to the British-based company P&O Cruises, is also in the maritime area and is supporting the search. “On board of Ionapeople can also be treated medically”, add the emergency services. The maritime area of the accident is swept by winds which blow at a speed of 6 on the Beaufort scale, in a sea with waves three meters high.