BERLIN: Several crew members are reportedly missing and one vessel sinking as two cargo ships collided in the North Sea as in the early hours of Tuesday, German authorities said.
The collision occurred approximately 22 kilometres (13 miles) southwest of the island of Helgoland, as confirmed by the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CCME). Involved in the collision were the Verity, sailing under a British flag and en route from Bremen to the UK town of Immingham, and the Polesie, flagged under the Bahamas, traveling from Hamburg to La Coruna in Spain.
The Verity, the smaller of the two ships with a length of 91 meters (almost 300 feet), is believed to have sunk. The CCME reported that one person was rescued from the water and is receiving medical care, while several others remain missing. A total of 22 people were aboard the Polesie, which remained afloat following the collision.
Rescue Efforts Underway After Cargo Ships Collision
Rescue efforts are underway in challenging weather conditions, with winds reaching a forceful six on the Beaufort scale and waves surging as high as three meters. Multiple vessels, including two rescue cruisers, an emergency tug, a pilot boat, a police patrol boat, and a helicopter, are actively engaged in the search and rescue operation. The P&O cruise ship IONA, present in the vicinity, has also joined the efforts. Medical care is being provided on board the IONA, which has doctors available to assist.
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German Transport Minister Volker Wissing expressed his concern, stating, “My thoughts are with the crew members, their relatives, and the rescue teams who have been in action since early this morning.”
